Varazze to Croce di Castagnabuona

The trail from Varazze to Croce di Castagnabuona climbs from the ancient Ligurian port — where 13th-century shipyards built galleys for Genoa — into the hinterland hills through the hamlet of Castagnabuona, whose name reveals the area's chestnut heritage. The route alternates Genoese creuze, the characteristic brick-and-cobble mule tracks, with woodland paths through mixed chestnut and maritime pine. The ascent crosses abandoned terraces where dry-stone walls are colonised by capers and red valerian. The highest point, Croce di Castagnabuona (293m), commands a coastal panorama reaching as far as Corsica on clear days. The return follows a parallel trail descending through a cool gully rich in ferns and mosses. Wild boar are common — look for their rootings along the trail edges. Hikeable nearly year-round, avoiding only days of heavy rain due to clay sections.