The Paths of Palmaria

Palmaria is the largest Ligurian island and together with the two smaller islands of Tino and Tinetto in 1997 was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The island can be reached from the village of Portovenere or the promenade of La Spezia, with passenger boats or hired small boats. This island has an extensive network of trails that allows you to visit it widely.
The path n. 510 permits you a complete tour of the island, with a total distance of approximately 3 hours and with a vertical drop of 290 meters.

Starting from  Terrizzo, the bay in front of Portovenere, with direction Gulf of La Spezia, you meet the Fort “Umberto I”, that has been recovered and may be visited, and then climb up to the battery located above Cala Schenello. From there on the right you take path n. 511, called “Road of the condemned” because during the military works of the island the prisoners.were employed.

In about 40 minutes through path n. 511 you may reach Fort Cavour, the main building on the top of the island, from where you have a spectacular view over the village of Portovenere and the Church of San Pietro.
Continuing on path n. 510 you reach  Cala della Fornace where on isolated reefs off  Punta Scola. you may admire Torre Scola, a small military fort built in 1606 by the Genoese.
The climb fades to get on a plateau that offers a magnificent view of the Gulf, the Apuan Alps and the island of Tino, where once on the terraces still visible, were cultivated vines and olive trees.
Leaving the plateau the path descends steeply through the forest onto the Pozzale passing across the reef and the beach that is situated under the imposing rock walls and then up towards the side of the island overlooking the open sea.
This is the wildest part of Palmaria with cliffs overlooking the Cove and Cala Grande. Here once the precious marble Portoro used to be mined and was lowered to the sea with daring feats of engineering.
Reached the highest point of the island at an altitude of 190 meters it faces a long descent into a forest of oaks, until “Carlo Alberto”, the shoreline in front of the church of San Pietro; from here you enjoy a spectacular view of the rocky face of Muzzerone, on the cliffs of the Rosse, the little island of Ferale and as far as Cinque Terre.
Walking along the promenade you go back to Terrizzo, and you pass in front of  the entrance of the historic Locanda Lorena, the most renowned restaurant in the area.