Bandia da Bonassola

Route starting from Bonassola to reach the Bandia trails. From downtown Bonassola, take the seaside bike path to Levanto, where you’ll climb on paved road to the Gritta Pass. From there, continue climbing to the left until you reach the Soviore Sanctuary, where you’ll leave the main paved road and take a side road on the left. After a challenging climb, you’ll reach the summit and turn right onto a paved road. After a few kilometers, leave the paved road and take a dirt road on the left, which winds up and down and leads to the start of the first trail.

Take the trail leading toward Pignone—a wonderful discovery. It’s very “flowy” and well-maintained, with some great sections. Once you reach Pignone, there are two fast trails in quick succession. Return to the village and take the paved road toward the Termine Pass; the gradient is gentle. After a few kilometers, turn right; the slope steepens, and you’ll reach the area above Soviore once again. Take the Crocettola trail on the right, and the flow disappears—it’s back to the familiar Ligurian rock. Once back at Colla di Gritta, take the trail behind the restaurant toward Cima Rossini, where the view of the Cinque Terre is always spectacular.

Descend along the trail to Levanto, where you’ll take the bike path back to Bonassola. I recommend doing this route during the off-season, due to the heat and the presence of hikers, especially during the last part of the ride.