Costa - Case Vigo - Ghiaia (REL route GSPA65262PE)

This trail is a fascinating mid-slope and valley-floor connection historically used by the local communities of Framura and Deiva Marina. The route starts from the hillside hamlet of Costa di Framura, near the Parish Church of San Martino and the fourteenth-century Saracen tower. From the village saddle, the trail descends northwards into dense and cool mixed woodland of pine and chestnut trees. Along the descent, hikers encounter impressive and rare old cork oaks and broad terraced olive groves. The route then reaches the abandoned rural settlement of Case Vigo. From this junction, a short uphill detour reaches the summit of nearby Monte Vigo, site of the renowned Castellaro di Vigo, an important pre-Roman Iron Age archaeological site that served as a fortified settlement of the Liguri Friniati. Beyond the ruins, the main trail descends steadily towards the valley floor and ends in the locality of Ghiaia, near the stream and the road or pedestrian connections towards nearby Deiva Marina.

• Wear hiking boots or shoes with a non-slip lugged sole. The unpaved woodland sections and the paths through the olive groves retain humidity and leaves that can make the descent slippery.
• Avoid the route immediately after severe weather: the gradients of the hillside ravine towards Ghiaia and the woodland surface tend to retain mud.
• There are no certified drinking-water sources along the rural trail. Carry a full water supply from the starting point in Costa.