Sentiero degli Alpini
A military mule track cut into the rock on the faces of Monte Toraggio and Pietravecchia, with tunnels and sheer drops, a few kilometres from the French border and with views of the sea.
- Difficulty
- EE Expert hikers
- Length
- 5.7 km
- Elevation gain
- +770 m / −790 m
- Time
- 4–5 hours
- Route
- Point to point
- Altitude
- 1400–1803 m
- Season
- Summer Autumn
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The story
It was built in the 1930s by the Alpini, when this border with France was fortified: it was meant to link the ridge positions out of sight. Today it is one of the most spectacular trails in the Ligurian Alps, within the Ligurian Alps Regional Natural Park.
Why go
Because a few hours' walk combines military history, limestone walls and rare alpine flowers with a view of the sea at Sanremo.
Practical information
- Start
- Colla Melosa (Rifugio Allavena)
- Finish
- Back the same way, or as a loop on park trails
- Best time
- June–October
- Parking
- Car park at Colla Melosa.
- By public transport
- You need a car: Colla Melosa is reached from Pigna or Molini di Triora.
- Water
- At Rifugio Allavena; then nothing.
- Shade
- Little: you walk across rock faces.
- Huts and refreshments
- Rifugio Allavena at Colla Melosa.
- With children
- No: exposed sections and tunnels, for experienced hikers only.
Weather at the start
The forecast for the next 7 days at this spot: sky, temperatures, rain and wind.
Forecast by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), from the models of national weather services. Your browser downloads it directly from Open-Meteo, and only when you ask. In the mountains and at sea the weather changes quickly: check the official forecast as well before you set off.
What to see on the route and nearby
More hikes in Liguria
- 1The Sentiero Azzurro of the Cinque TerreE 10.5 km · +710 m · 5–6 hours · point to point
- 2★ Camogli–San Fruttuoso via the BatterieEE 10.5 km · +870 m · 5–6 hours · point to point
- 3★ Around Palmaria IslandE 5.9 km · +280 m · 3–4 hours · loop
- 4★ Sentiero del Pellegrino, Varigotti–NoliT 4.9 km · +430 m · 2–2.5 hours · point to point
- 5Punta Manara loopE 4.6 km · +290 m · 2 hours · loop
- 6★ Genoa's historic aqueductE 8.8 km · +620 m · 3–3.5 hours · loop
- 7★ Monte Antola from CaprileE 6.4 km · +590 m · 3 hours · out and back
- 8★ Lago delle Lame loopE 8.2 km · +470 m · 3 hours · loop
- 9★ The Napoleonic Trail in the BeiguaE 5.3 km · +290 m · 2 hours · loop
- 11From Portofino to San Fruttuoso via Base 0E 4.7 km · +330 m · 2–2.5 hours · point to point
- 12Sant'Antonio del Mesco from MonterossoE 3.6 km · +280 m · 2–2.5 hours round trip · out and back
- 13Montenero Sanctuary from RiomaggioreE 5 km · +270 m · 2 hours round trip · out and back
- 14From Campiglia to Portovenere on the Alta ViaE 4.9 km · +60 m · 2–2.5 hours · point to point
- 15Seaside walk from Levanto to FramuraT 5.9 km · +30 m · 1.5 hours · point to point
- 16The Genoa Forts trail, from Righi to Forte DiamanteE 12.6 km · +470 m · 3.5–4 hours round trip · out and back
Routes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via Waymarked Trails and BRouter; elevations from a digital terrain model. Times and elevation gains are indicative: waymarks on the ground and closure orders always take precedence.