Don Bosco Chapel

Access

From the Varazze exit of the , descend until you cross Varazze. At Piazza De Gasperi, turn right into Viale Nazioni Unite and from the roundabout go straight into Via Piave where you can park along the Teiro river (you can possibly use the other side of Via Montegrappa - shopping centre area).

Introduction

The route is pleasant, cutting at length through the Mediterranean maquis that occasionally opens up to offer beautiful views of the coastline.

Description

You face via Montegrappa and then via Nocelli. Afterwards, you turn left towards the coast to avoid a tunnel. You proceed towards the marina and from a roundabout, turn back (via Maestri del lavoro d'Italia) to the Carabinieri barracks, where you turn left into via Vallino. Pass under the railway using the steps to turn, immediately, left at the first fork. You pass a few houses and then climb up a paved road through the greenery. You pass over the motorway and the climb continues. Continue on to the hamlet of Castagnabuona (160 m). Continue straight ahead until you reach the Church of S. Rocco, with a beautiful and characteristic façade. Proceed along Via alla Croce (to the left of the religious building), passing several small villas. At a fork in the road, go ahead and, after a few metres, leave the road to turn left to the Sanctuary of N. S. della Croce (275 m) with a splendid panorama. Continue straight ahead on the dirt track to the left of the building. You come to a saddle (410 m), where you turn onto a Fie marker that goes up from another quarter of Varazze (the return). It is now a comfortable track. You pass the fence of the Timossi crossroads (391 m) and continue until you find the asphalt. Shortly, there is a fork, indicated by hiking signs (388 m); turn right and gain metres. Beyond a hairpin bend, the mule track, with a last effort, leads between the trees to the Don Bosco chapel, on the Bric delle Forche (452 m).
After a break, return to the fork at an altitude of 410 m and here keep to the left on a slight incline. Then, descend towards the hamlet of Cantalupo. You will pass the ruins of a house and begin a long descent into the wood, which is somewhat ruined. After a few hairpin bends, you enter Cantalupo. Take in succession via Craviotto, via Nuova di Cantalupo, via dei Leoni, via Nuova di Cantalupo again, via S. Francesco until you come out of the Teiro stream at Varazze, where you turn towards your parked car.

In summary. Disl. 500 m - Dif. E - 13.5 km for approx. 4h/4h30 Tot. + all the breaks to see the various places you come across Comfort: sufficient on the outward journey and almost sufficient on the return. Best time: autumn to spring Time: very good.

If you want, here is the photo pdf file, with some more news:
http://cralgalliera.altervista.org/VarazzeDonBosco021.pdf

http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/anno2021.htm 
http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/altre2021.htm

After clicking on the link, press F5 to refresh the page

NB: in the case of an excursion, always check with FIE, Cai, any park authorities or other institutions, pro loco, etc, that there have been no changes that have increased the difficulties! No liability is accepted. The present text is purely indicative and not exhaustive.

Info Hiking Section Cral Galliera: http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/esc.htm 
Trips 2021 at the link: http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/gite021.pdf

General information

Trail signage:FIE
Type of route:partially circular
Recommended period: October, November, December, January, February, March, April
Sun exposure:south