Green Ideas experience.

Five enchanting coastal towns which, together, have become the symbol of Liguria, and five religious sanctuaries, each of which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Sanctuary Trail is an evocative route which links Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, the towns of Cinque Terre, and each town's corresponding site of worship. Since ancient times, Liguria has been a land of farmers and fishermen, the first responsible for tilling the area's precipitous coastal terraces, the latter passing days, nights, even weeks at sea. For both, the sanctuaries represented important spiritual and geographical landmarks.

Leaving the tourist crowds far behind, those walking along the footpath enter the heart of Liguria, the terraces and dry stone walls of which have made the area an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although you will need at least 9 hours to walk the entire length of the path, the route can easily be divided into various sections. In addition, each of Cinque Terre's sanctuaries can be reached via a steep (but considerably shorter) mule track which starts in the town directly below. Whichever route visitors choose to use, they can expect to find themselves surrounded by the most breathtaking of seascapes as they hike over the coastal ridges and skirt the tiny olive groves and vineyards, in which Liguria's delicious extra virgin olive oil, and fragrant Cinque Terre Doc and Sciacchetrà fortified wines are produced.

The first stage of this walking itinerary, experiencing the art, history and natural beauty of Cinque Terre, commences in the town of Monterosso and, more precisely, at the end of the Via Roma. From here, walkers head along the pathway no.9 to reach the 7th century Sanctuary of the Madonna of Soviore: one of Liguria's oldest sites of worship. Legend has it that a statue of the Virgin Mary was hidden here during the time of the Longobardi persecutions and that, when it was found a century or so later, it became the object of fervent Madonna worship in the area. From the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Soviore, walkers then take the B8 pathway to reach the sanctuary of the Madonna of Reggio, built above the small town of Vernazza.

The second section of the walk connects the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Reggio (also known as the Sanctuary of the African Madonna in reference to the black effigy of Mary housed within its walls), with the third sanctuary, that of Our Lady of Grace (Nostra Signora delle Grazie), which towers above the town of Corniglia. This sanctuary testifies to the presence of the 15th century Franciscan reformist, Bernardino da Siena, in the area.

The third leg of the walk leads trekkers to the medieval hamlet of Volastra and the fourth sanctuary, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Health (Nostra Signora della Salute), located above the town of Manarola. This part of the route commences along pathway no.7, which begins close to the Sanctuary of our Lady of Grace, and takes walkers as far as the group of houses known as Case Fornacci. From here, visitors proceed along a stretch of carriageway, in the direction of Riomaggiore and as far as the Case Pianca junction, from where the 6D pathway then winds its way through terraces, woods, and over streams, to reach the small village of Porciana, believed to be of Roman origin, and Volastra. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Health dates back to 1240, although its present appearance is the result of a 17th century restoration.

The fourth and final section of the Sanctuary Trail continues from Volastra to Manarola, by way of a flight of ancient stone steps (as an alternative, walkers can make a detour in the direction of Groppo, to visit the Cantina Sociale Cinque Terre winery before proceeding along the no.2 pathway to Manarola). From Manarola, walkers come to Riomaggiore, the last town on the itinerary, by way of the legendary Via dell' Amore coastal path. From the main carpark in Riomaggiore, an old mule track then leads up to the Sanctuary of Montenero from where a sweeping view from Punta Musco to the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto can be seen. Near to the sanctuary, the National Park of Cinque Terre Visitors' Center offers refreshments and a mountain bike rental service, for those who decide to cycle back to Monterosso along the splendid no.1 route.