Nature parks, walks, gardens, trails, cycle paths. A city like Genoa, wedged between the sea and the hills, offers many opportunities for enjoyable excursions in nature.

 

From the city centre it is possible to climb up to the Spianata di Castelletto, a hanging balcony overlooking the historical centre with a spectacular view of the city and port. It is charming to reach it either via the Art Nouveau lift or to climb up the ancient cobbled “creuze”.

 

Not far from there, on the heights, is the Parco Urbano dei Forti e delle Mura , a complex built between the 18th and 19th centuries to defend the city. Today the area is a green space, ideal for hiking and mountain biking. 

Not to be missed: is a trip on the “Trenino di Casella”, a charming little train that runs on historic track, the best preserved in Italy and still in perfect working order, that takes you (amongst its other stops) to Forte Diamante.

 

Along the valley of the Bisagno stream, a unique civil engineering structure is still visible: the Acquedotto Storico. Following the route of the old waterway, which since Roman times has supplied the city and the port wth water, you cross through villages and gardens, woods and over magnificent high arched bridges.

 

Located in the eastern part of Genoa, Nervi is an elegant fishing village on a cliff with a romantic promenade. Between the town and the sea lies the large green area of the areas Parks, home to the historic Roseto.

 

To the west, in Pegli, there is the “fantastic” journey through the historic park of Villa Durazzo Pallavicini, which in 2017 was awarded the title of Most Beautiful Park in Italy. Stretching over 8 hectares, the route crosses 15 majestic landscapes: the Gothic Tribune, the Castello del Capitano, the Lago Grande, and much more, temples, obelisks, caves, pagodas, rare and majestic trees, like a fairy tale that takes the visitor on a journey steeped in the esoteric and filled with philosophic significance.

 

Or again, explore Genoa by bicycle, going from the sea to the historic centre: from Boccadasse along the promenade of Corso Italia to Piazza della Vittoria and on to Piazza De Ferrari. But also beyond the city, on the 10 km cycle path between Arenzano and Varazze, or along the “Ardesia” (slate) cycle path in Valfontanabuona, inland from Chiavari. And for a day trip, there are many itineraries in the hinterland and the regional parks: the “Guidovia del Santuario Madonna della Guardia”, in the municipality of Ceranesi, is an excursion itinerary that, like a miniature “Way of St. James”, leads in just a few hours to a precious treasure of ex-votos offerings and popular testimonies of miracles associated with the shrine.

 

World-famous for its style and glamour, Portofino is also a natural park with 80 km of footpaths overlooking the sea and a protected marine area surrounding the promontory. It is a destination for divers from all over Europe, for its marine fauna and underwater “landscapes”.

 

Behind Genoa lies the Parco dell'Antola, whose name means 'mountain in bloom' because in spring beautiful flowers colour the high-altitude pastures. At 1600 metres, it is a mountain destination just a few kilometres from the city.

 

Further east, behind Chiavari and Lavagna, stands Mount Maggiorasca which, at 1,799 metres, is the highest in the province. We are close to the Aveto Park, an area of valleys and forests, mountains, meadows, pastures and plateaus where you can observe a rare herd of wild horses or explore an ancient mine. Its network of hiking trails is a paradise for hikers, who will also appreciate the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri: the  route crosses the entire region and can be covered on foot or by mountatin bike in stages. The area of the Metropolitan City of Genoa also stretches from Beigua Park on the heights of Arenzano to Monte Zatta on the border with the province with La Spezia.