Connection 574 - 591 via Madonna del Soccorso (REL trail 574C)

Trail 574C, recorded in the register as GSPA57409CE, is a key pedestrian connection within the hiking network between the Levanto valley and the Cinque Terre National Park. The route branches off from main trail 574, which climbs from Pié di Fontona towards Colla di Gritta, and cuts across the mountain slope at mid-height beneath a mixed woodland of maritime pines, holm oaks and chestnut trees. The path passes a short distance from the old and evocative Sanctuary of Madonna del Soccorso, also known for its tiny characteristic rural cemetery isolated among the vegetation. Continuing along an old forest track, the route climbs steadily until it joins the major axis of trail 591, the historic wooded ridge linking Colla di Gritta to Sant'Antonio del Mesco. This connection allows hikers to combine several loop itineraries between Levanto, Fontona, Soviore and Monterosso without retracing the same paths.

• Wear hiking shoes with a lugged sole: the woodland surface accumulates dry leaves and humidity that can make sloping passages slippery.
• Avoid the trail immediately after severe storms: the unpaved forest surface can retain mud and may contain branches or small shrubs brought down by the wind.
• There are no certified drinking-water sources along this short connecting segment; rely on the nearby villages or the refreshment points around Colla di Gritta.