Botanical gardens 'Hanbury' from Balzi Rossi

This moderate hike from Balzi Rossi to the Hanbury Botanical Gardens offers a captivating journey along the Ligurian coast. You will traverse varied terrain, including dedicated hiking paths, state roads, and footpaths, with surfaces ranging from asphalt to natural ground. The 4.9-mile (7.9 km) route, with an elevation gain of 413 feet (126 metres), takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes to complete. Along the way, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Ligurian Sea, passing a beautiful pebble beach and a scenic dirt road that parallels a railway, before reaching the renowned Hanbury Botanical Gardens with their magnificent sea vistas.

Starting near Ponte San Ludovico, just beyond the barrier separating Italy from France, the trail offers a unique cross-border perspective. While much of the path is accessible, some sections may require sure-footedness. The varied landscape includes portions that follow the ancient Via Julia Augusta through a beautiful pine forest, adding to the diverse natural surroundings.

The trail is rich in historical and botanical significance. You will pass the Balzi Rossi area, known for its stunning limestone wall and millennium-old caves, which house one of the most important archaeological sites of the Paleolithic era. The destination, the Hanbury Botanical Gardens, is world-renowned for its extraordinary collection of approximately six thousand plants from around the globe, thriving in a unique microclimate. This combination of ancient history, diverse flora, and continuous sea views makes for a rich and varied hiking experience.