Monesteroli Hiking Guide: How to Tackle Italy’s Famous 1,200-Step Grand Staircase

 

The Hidden Gem Between Portovenere & Cinque Terre

Monesteroli is a tiny ancient rural village between Portovenere and Cinque Terre. The key attractions are the demanding staircase with 1,200 steps (“la scalinata grande” or grand staircase)  and breathtaking views. 

Along the ways are rows of vineyards, beautiful flowers, endless sea views, peaceful nature, steep cliffs, coastlines of Cinque Terre and panoramic views of the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto.

How to Get There & Trail Route Details

We visited Monesteroli at end April, a cloudy day which made the hike easier, without suffering from the heat. The trip started with a drive to Campiglia (or take Atc bus). There is a viewpoint over La Spezia between our parking place and the centre of Campiglia, the highest village in the entire Municipality of La Spezia. The centre is small. Still, you can stock up food and drinks for the hike, if needed.

We followed the signpost at Campiglia. Path number 535-536 is the one that leads to the Monesteroli grand staircase passing through woods and vineyards.

The Ancient History Behind the Cliffside Village & Vineyards

The grand staircase was built by farmers who needed to transport grapes from the vineyards surrounding the village. In the past they climbed these steps with panniers full of grapes over their shoulders.

With technical advancement, rails and tools for transporting and processing the grapes were built to alleviate the hardship.

The Breathtaking Panoramic Views

To walk the steps, it takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes downhill and almost 2 hours uphill back to Campiglia.

At the end of the narrow and steep staircase is the village with its red brick roofs.  People wrote about refreshing swims at its beach. But the path was blocked when we visited the place, probably due to landslides in the past.  It takes a long time for Italians to fix things.

 

It is an original and extraordinary hike with stunning views, but it must be approached carefully. There is no railing along the steep descent that leads to the sea. I got down slowly and carefully. One should be a little fit and not suffer from fear of height. Don’t be too scared. I read from TripAdvisor that a couple at their late 60s hiked down and up the staircase. You will be able too. Plan a trip there!