Hiking to Monte Bardellone by way of Soviore

We decide to hike over and up to Monte Bardellone, elevation 676 meters (2,217 feet) overlooking Levanto.  We start out by hiking up to Santuario Nostra Signora di Soviore (470 meters/1,541 feet above Monterosso), then follow a path slong the ridges, leading to a road back into the hills around Levanto.  We head up the direct path from Monterosso to Soviore.

Path to Soviore

Looking down at Monterosso

Watching a paraglider land on the Monterosso beach

We follow the road from Soviore southeast toward Il Termine, leaving the road just before Il Termine to join the AV5T trail heading north along the ridge.

Trails in many directions from Soviore

Just before we leave the road for the trail, we pass paragliders preparing to launch and fly toward the Monterosso beaches.

Paraglider launching

Trail along the ridge

Resting place for lunch with views

We pass a group exploring the trail on horseback (and watch out for the occasional souveniers left by the horses as they travel down the path).

Horses on trail

We are treated with occasional glimpses of Monterosso as we travel around it and transition across the ridge to overlook Levanto, the next town north.

Looking down on Monterosso

Continuing along the trail and onto the road

Looking down on Levanto

As we reach higher elevations, we are rewarded with expansive views across Levanto, the mountains, and the sea.

Great views

Old trail, new trail

Highlights along the trail

Returning, we descend into clouds that are rolling from the sea across the hills.  Our path follows the edge of the cloud bank and, occasionally, heads into a passing cloud, offering beautiful views of the inside and outside of clouds and glimpses of the sea and the towns of  Levanto and then Monterosso.

Clouds rolling in

We reach Soviore and return to Monterosso by way of the direct path, still passing by and through the clouds.

Descending to Monterosso

We return from this long walk with knowledge of yet a new area, more inland than we've previously explored, but with spectacular views across the region.