The best traffic-free bike rides around Riccò Del Golfo Di Spezia

Very nice. It is lively there.

Fantastic views along the route.

Largo Taragio is Corniglia's main square, the heart of village life since the Middle Ages. The 17th-century Church of Santa Caterina and several tower houses overlook it, a reminder of the town's ancient defensive function. According to tradition, residents gathered in this square to discuss community decisions and celebrate religious holidays. Legend has it that on summer nights, one can still hear the echoes of the sailors' songs as they once landed at the foot of the cliff and climbed up to Corniglia to pay homage to their patron saint. Today, Largo Taragio is the ideal place for a break, enjoying outdoor cafés and the authentic atmosphere of a village suspended between history and the sea.

Along this stretch, the coastal road offers a splendid view of Corniglia, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea. It is the only village in the Cinque Terre without a port, and its isolated location makes it particularly charming. The coastal road leading to Corniglia in this area is scenic and winding, with glimpses of both the open sea and the terraced vineyards typical of these coasts.

Passo Alpicella is located at 710m above sea level and is part of the 42nd stage of the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri. It is located on the watershed ridge between Val di Vara and Valle del Magra, offering open views that on clear days reach the Apuan Alps and the Gulf of Poets.

The dirt road that connects the Alpicella Pass to the Valico dei Solini follows the ridge that separates the Val di Vara from the Valle del Magra, offering truly suggestive views on both sides. The surface is mostly hard and compact, and does not present any particular cycling problems. Only in some short sections do you encounter loose sections, with stones that are also quite large, but still easily surmountable without significant technical difficulties. The difference in height is limited, which makes this route pleasant and rideable in both directions.

The dirt road that connects the hamlet of Bagatello to Valico dei Solini follows the route of the 43rd stage of the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri (Ceparana–Valico dei Solini) and also partly coincides with a segment of the Lunigiana Gravel. The route is easy to ride: the surface is largely compact and stable, ideal for gravel and MTB. Some short sections have a slightly more unstable surface, with loose gravel or uneven terrain, but overall the ride is smooth and pleasant, even uphill. The natural setting is very suggestive, with wooded sections and open views towards the Val di Vara.

The Alta Via dei Monti Liguri unites in a single long trekking itinerary the paths of the peaks of the Apennines from Val di Vara to Val Nervia, connecting the existing regional parks from Ceparana to Ventimiglia. The stretch we walked starts near the medieval village of Bolano and first climbs to the Solini pass and then reaches the Apicella pass and from there goes back up to the Casoni pass. Continuing on the ridge it touches the slopes of Mount Cornovigilio and the Rastrello and Calzavitello passes.