On the seafront in Levanto where the railway line once ran along a viaduct, there is now a pedestrian footpath and cycle path which runs through the old railway tunnels affording fabulous views in the gaps and allowing you to arrive easily and quickly in the towns of Bonassola and Framura.
How to find it: It’s very simple: when you get to the shore in Levanto, facing the sea look to your right and you will see the entrance to the first tunnel (the Cinque Terre are along the coast round the headland to your left).
We happily recommend the path to everyone, even those travelling with very small children: the path is safe and well lit, and there are separate lanes for cyclists and pedestrians. Cars and motorcycles are not allowed in the tunnels and it’s flat, a flat path being a rare thing around here!
The path is about 6km long and snakes along past many little bays and beaches: the section from Levanto to Bonassola is 2.5 km and is pleasant to walk along as there are several openings between the tunnels. The section between Bonassola and Framura is longer and is mostly inside tunnels so may be less interesting to walk along. By bicycle the journey is swift and you can enjoy the wonderful views from the splendid arches towards the end.
Bonassola has one of the best beaches along this coast. The path ends at Framura harbour – il Porticciolo – (this is my son’s absolutely favourite place, equal ranking with the Acquarium in Genoa). Here you can sip an aperitivo or take a refreshing swim. Bonassola and Framura are beautiful charming little towns and are less well known than the Cinque Terre, and for this reason usually far less crowded.
A little advice.
In summer the tunnels provide a pleasantly cool kind of natural a/c, so we advise everyone to take a sweater or a light wind jacket with them as the difference in temperature inside and out can be considerable (especially for small children on bike seats who are not even ‘warmed up’ by pedalling)
You can spend the whole day visiting the towns and beaches, stopping for swims, or ice creams and drinks in the seaside bars, but the path isn’t really that long and you can also enjoy it even if you only have a couple of hours: if you have already planned to visit the Cinque Terre and you don’t think you have time to see anything else, you could even fit a quick trip through the tunnels on your last day before you leave Levanto. Our advice, however, would be to explore the cycle path at the beginning of your holiday, that way if you like it you can go again!
What’s the best way to go along the Maremonti path?
You choose! You can run (it’s the local joggers’ ‘go to’ place), you can walk, you can rollerskate or skateboard. Take a scooter or pop the kids in the pushchair. Or, of course cycle (you can easily rent city bikes, mountain bikes or ebikes for all ages, complete with bike seats for toddlers and crash helmets for all).
If you haven’t been on a bike since you were 10 years old and you really don’t feel this is the moment to get back in the saddle you can enjoy a stroll to Bonassola and then catch the train which will have you in Framura in just a few minutes. From platform 2 of Framura station you can easily access the Via del Mare, a spectacular boardwalk around the rocks which is only accessible on foot!
