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The Liguria Trail from the French border to Villa Hanbury
The stretch of the Liguria Trail, just after the French border, offers a pure thrill.
Here, you’ll encounter an extraordinary microclimate and an atmosphere reminiscent of days gone by as this walk revives the beauty that once attracted foreign tourists to Liguria.
Start the trail just after Ponte San Ludovico, a few kilometers past Ventimiglia and just beyond the barrier that separates Italy from France. Once you’ve crossed the beautiful pebble beach, you’ll spot the Balzi Rossi area, a limestone wall over 100 metres high where, in its crevices, humans lived thousands of years ago during the Paleolithic era.
Continue along a scenic dirt road that parallels the railway until you reach the Galleria della Dogana. From there, take the path that leads to the ancient Via Julia Augusta. Through a beautiful pine forest, you’ll eventually arrive at the gardens of Villa Hanbury, a botanical garden constructed by Sir Thomas Hanbury, an English businessman and philanthropist, featuring approximately six thousand plants from all corners of the world.
You don’t need to look any further than Liguria; the region perfectly embodies the concept of original beauty. Whether you’re strolling along the narrow streets of Genoa or hiking the coastal paths of the Cinque Terre, you’ll be treated to expansive views of nature and local life.
