From the 'coastal road' to Fossola, Monesteroli and Schiara

Access

After leaving the A12 at La Spezia, cross the city and, past the football field at a fork, turn right in the direction of Riomaggiore and the Cinque Terre (SP370 'Strada Litoranea'). Ignoring the diversions to Biassa, one passes a tunnel. Immediately, on the left, there is an open space with a limited parking area (300 m).

Introduction

The "Other Cinque Terre"... a journey through thousands of steps! A documentary seen on Monday 14 March on Rai3's Geo programme (Le scale sul mare - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r2d-OLXrE8&ab_channel=DocumentAriafilm  ) suddenly rekindled interest in walking in that area, partly explored in the more or less distant past... A series of circumstances made the day available on Saturday and the opportunity had to be properly utilised...

Description

You walk along a narrow carriageway, at the end of which there is a small residents' park. You come to a fork where you turn right. You descend to the Church of the Guardian Angel (242 m) and to Fossola. The shady track cuts across the mountain with short ups and downs, passing a section that is sheltered by a parapet. When you reach a junction (255 m), take the so-called 'big staircase' on the right, which plunges down towards the sea (be very careful! the steps are narrow and up to 50 cm high!) to reach the first houses of Monesteroli and, if you have the strength, you can descend further towards the coastline... In reality, at an altitude of 30/40 metres, the path has collapsed. You could also continue (and some do) but high safety standards dictate that you admire the view below without descending further. We return to the fork and continue to the right, continuing to gain metres until we reach the Nozzano Fountain (343 m) where we keep to the right, even at the next fork. We descend briefly onto a dirt track and then the path goes left and with easy steps descends towards Schiara. After the little church (175 m), you go down a steep slope towards the sea. There would be a prohibition, but reading on various sites it appears that the same no longer applies, having been put in place when the road was interrupted, while now it is entirely practicable... Only afterwards, with a few turns (fences), does it become a little less precipitous. You touch water and take a break. On the way back, you follow the outward route without, of course, the descent to Monesteroli. 

In summary. Dif. E (EE/EE+ for the two descents: from the Monesteroli crossroads and end towards the sea; from Schiara to the Scalo) - difference in altitude +730 m - 9 km x approx. 5h30h Tot + all the breaks to see the various places that are encountered. Ride comfort: sufficient, very poor on the two descents. Best period: from autumn to spring. Time: fair then good. Tour interest: high

as well as links to the two documents (with many photos and the full story) relating to the trip in question:
http://cralgalliera.altervista.org/Tramonti022A.pdf  

http://cralgalliera.altervista.org/Tramonti022B.pdf  

Also, there is the link comparing two photos, some 25 years apart...
http://cralgalliera.altervista.org/ParagoneCaseFossola.pdf  

Previous in the area, photos (1990s) and outings:
http://cralgalliera.altervista.org/Mostra2001Monesteroli01b.jpg 
http://cralgalliera.altervista.org/Mostra2001VersoFossola02b.jpg 
http://cralgalliera.altervista.org/Mostra2001ParticolareVersoFossola03b.jpg 
http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/biassa08.pdf 
http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/anelloBiassa011.pdf 
http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/anno2022.htm 
http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/altre2022.htm  

NB: in the case of an excursion, always check with FIE, Cai, any park authority 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 2022 at the link: http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/gite022.pdf