Cammino verso Assisi (Via della Costa) Day 1: Chiavari - Sestri Levante

Time for another Long Walk! 

After Rome and Santiago, the logical choice for my next Long Walk is the Via di San Francesco, to Assisi.

It doesn't pass by Chiavari, but I like to set out from home, so I stepped out the door today headed in the same direction as I took on my first Long Walk, to Rome, five years ago to the day! Part of my route will overlap with that walk, up to Lucca, after which I will veer off in the direction of Florence along the Via di San Jacopo in Toscana, and from Florence to the Sanctuary of La Verna and the official start of the Via di San Francesco. 

This morning there was a severe thunderstorm warning in effect, so I waited until it passed before setting off in the afternoon over the bridge to Lavagna, where I was joined by my walking buddy Mariella.  

Lavagna

Lavagna

Lavagna

Chiesa di Santo Stefano, Lavagna

"Don't start walking without the taste of wine in your mouth"
Good advice (?), but we didn't follow it! 

This is why it's called Lavagna (Italian for blackboard): the town is built on slate!

We took it easy, since we had set off late in the day and the afternoon was hot, and took the low road, walking the route known as the "panoramica" or scenic route above Lavagna to Cavi. From Cavi, however, there was no avoiding the steep climb up to the ruined church of Sant'Anna or the steep descent to Sestri Levante on the other side. 

View over Cavi di Lavagna

Church above Cavi di Lavagna

Ruins of the church of Sant'Anna

Sestri Levante as seen from Sant'Anna

The Sentiero Liguria is well marked

Here the Sentiero Liguria coincides with the Via della Costa,
the route across Liguria which joins the Camino di Santiago with 
the Via Francigena and also the Via di San Francesco

Hot but happy at Sant'Anna

Descending toward Sestri Levante

Coming down the hill from Sant'Anna in the hot sunshine, we were waylaid by the vision of Luna Blu Beach waiting for us, and gave up the hardships of pilgrimage in favour of a refreshing swim and drinks at the beach bar, in its final week of operation before shutting down for the fall and winter.   

Today, my pilgrimage ends here!

The walker's reward: a swim and aperitifs on the beach

Looking sharp at the bar in our matching sunhats & face masks!

Chiavari - Sestri Levante 10 km