Sentiero Azzurro (REL trail marker 592 / former no. 2)

The Sentiero Azzurro is historically divided into four distinct sections connecting the villages in sequence.

⚠️ Trail-status update notice: Because of the geomorphological fragility of the Ligurian territory, some lower sections of the Sentiero Azzurro are subject to periodic closures for maintenance or landslides. When a section is closed, the villages remain connected by the upper trails, such as the routes via Volastra or San Bernardino, or by railway.

1. Riomaggiore – Manarola (Via dell'Amore)

• Distance: 1.1 km | Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: T (Tourist)

• Features: The most famous section: a fully paved and level promenade carved into the cliff above the sea.

2. Manarola – Corniglia

• Distance: 2.2 km | Time: 45 minutes | Difficulty: E (Hiking)

• Features: The route runs parallel to the railway and Guvano beach. The final section to reach the hillside village of Corniglia involves climbing the famous Lardarina, a brick stairway with 33 flights and 382 steps.

3. Corniglia – Vernazza

• Distance: 3.2 km | Time: 1 hour 30 minutes | Difficulty: E (Hiking)

• Features: The trail enters olive groves and dense Mediterranean scrub, crosses the highest point of the route at approximately 220 metres above sea level near Prevo and then descends, offering one of the most iconic postcard views over Vernazza and its peninsula.

4. Vernazza – Monterosso al Mare

• Distance: 3.6 km | Time: 2 hours | Difficulty: E (Hiking)

• Features: The roughest, wildest and most demanding section. It includes steep stone stairways both when leaving Vernazza and when entering Monterosso in the Porto Roca area. The route crosses historic terraced vineyards where heroic viticulture is practised with the support of characteristic monorail trains.

The trail is very well marked with red-and-white paint but presents the typical characteristics of mountain terrain: uneven surfaces, irregular rock steps and narrow passages.

• Footwear: It is strictly forbidden to walk the trail in flip-flops, open sandals or shoes with smooth soles. Forestry officers and Park rangers carry out checks and may issue fines. Hiking shoes or trail shoes with a lugged sole are mandatory.

• Paid access (Cinque Terre Card): During the tourist season, from March to November, access to the open sections of the Sentiero Azzurro requires payment of a fee or possession of a Cinque Terre Card Trekking or Train, available from the visitor centres at railway stations. The proceeds finance the complex maintenance of dry-stone walls and the walking surface.