Trail AV5T

Watch out for rocks and roots. This is one of the most runnable trails of the Cinque Terre.

From Bastreri Square in Portovenere, the trail climbs steeply up stairs behind Doria castle, then, on technical singletrack. Be sure to look behind you to see stunning views of Portovenere and the islands of Palmaria and Tino. A short segment of dirt road connects again to technical singletrack along the coast, through Mediterranean scrub, to an old windmill and then the village of Campiglia.

From Campiglia the trail continues on singletrack through the forest, then a paved segment passes the small church of S. Antonio on the way to Telegrafo, where AV5T intersects with Trail SVA (593) (to Riomaggiore), then continues on singletrack into the forest before widening to a dirt road until the intersection with Trail N. 501 (to Riomaggiore). A fantastic segment continues through a chestnut forest to the intersection with Trail N. 502 (to Manarola), where a short offshoot trail leads to the Menhir of Monte Capri. The trail passes below the summit of Monte Capri (mt. 789), then crosses the ridgeline to the Vara Valley side.

The trail crosses the ridgeline again to the Cinque Terre side and descends steeply to the intersection with Trail N. 506 (to Manarola). A relatively flat segment passes through holm oaks to the intersection with Trail N. 507 (to Vernazza) at Cigoletta and then climbs through Mediterranean scrub toward Monte Gaginara (mt. 771), Monte Castello (mt. 750) and Monte Malpertuso (mt. 812), the highest peak in the Cinque Terre National Park.

On the descent from Monte Malpertuso, AV5T intersects with Trail N. 508 (to Vernazza) and then continues toward Monte Santa Croce, then the intersection with Trail N. 591 and the provincial road.

Most of this trail passes through the forest of pines, chestnut trees, holm oak, cork oak and Mediterranean scrub. You may see wild boar and deer, especially during the early morning or evening hours