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Liguria and the Portofino Mountain Park

San Fruttuoso Abbey
One of my favourite places in Northern Italy, is in the East Riviera in Liguria, in Italy, and is called Portofino Mountain Park (Parco di Portofino), which is a regional Natural Park.

I could have written something about Cinque Terre, the most famous area in Liguria and one of the must visit in Italy for sure, but actually, Liguria is more than Cinque Terre.

The Portofino Mountain Park was established in 1935; it extends along both sides of the Promontory of Portofino, facing Tigullio and “Paradiso” Gulfs, under the Municipalities of Camogli, Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure.

The Trail of the Pipes in the Portofino Mountain Park
This protected coastal area is the most northern in the western Mediterranean Sea, and it offers an extraordinary combination of rural and maritime cultures. 
The Park boasts one of the greatest varieties of plant species in the Mediterranean area, an array of wildlife and important architectural ruins, that can be viewed hiking along its many panoramic paths.

The most amazing view of the gulf to is from the Trail of the Pipes (Via or Sentiero dei Tubi).
The Trail of the Pipes is one of the most spectacular and exciting hicking of the entire Portofino Mountain Park.

The route follow the ancient path of the pipelines, inaugurated in 1899, that connected the village of San Fruttuoso to Camogli, passing through rocks, German bunkers of the Second World War, and green woods.
A section of the Trail of the Pipes 
The itinerary develops through the Promontory for five kilometers through four tunnels: this is why the use of flashlights is necessary. The most exposed sections are equipped and secured with ladders and chains. 

Given the level of difficulty, the hike along the "Via dei Tubi" is only allowed accompanied by a guide from the Portofino Park and recommended for expert hikers. 
  • Duration: about 4 and a half hours
  • Difficulty: winding path, with dark tunnels, overhangs, a stretch to follow by clinging to chains. It is necessary to have a torch, long trousers, do not suffer from vertigo or claustrophobia and be accompanied by a specialized guide of the Park 
  • Difference in height: about 250 m. 
The route ends in the village of San Fruttuoso, which is famous for  its Abbey.

View of the Abbey from the end of the Trial of the Pipes 
The Abbey of San Fruttuoso is located in a small bay beneath a steep wooded hill. It can only be reached by sea or by hiking trails, there is no road access which makes it more beautiful and incontaminated.

The Benedictine Monastery dates back to VIII Century when Prospero, Bishop of Tarragon, brought there the ashes of San Fruttuoso were rebuilt by the Benedictines in the X Century, after the invasion and destruction of the Saracens. 
In the XIII Century the Abbey fell under the responsibility of the Genoese Doria family, until 1983, when it decided to donate the entire complex to the Italian State. 

The entire trail is worth just to arrive to the Abbey where you can enjoy a peaceful view of the bay and relax after a challenging hiking.

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