GE_39 Sea and Mountain ring path

First stage. From Rapallo station (piazza Molfino) walk along corso Assereto as far as piazza Pastene, near the roundabout near the sea. From the roundabout, via San Francesco d'Assisi is the start of the itinerary which is signed by two red crosses. Walk along via Don Minzoni and climb scalinata Calissano stone staircase to the left. Carry on walking uphill on salita Montallegro which leads to the locality Pellegrino. Along the ascent to the Sanctuary, between the olive groves and after a last stretch in the evergreen oak woodland you reach Santuario N.S. di Montallegro (629 m). After the sanctuary turn left following the footpath signed by a red rhombus. After about 1,1 km you reach Passo di Coreglia (633 m; pay attention as the trail sign is poorly visible). From here the trail, signed by two empty red rhombus, will lead us to the bottom of the Fontanabuona Valley near Coreglia town hall (Pian dei Manzi; 67 m). Fifty metres east of the building take the “Ciclovia dell'Ardesia”, a road for cyclists and pedestrians which you follow westwards as far as Santuario N. S. dei Miracoli in Cicagna. Near the bell tower you cross the Lavagna Stream by a nice footbridge, then walk along the paved road westwards for 900 metres. Once you find the wooden signs for the trails to the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri (High Way of the Ligurian Mountains) follow the red full triangle trail sign to Acquapendente waterfall. Pass Cornia (302 m), Albareto Basso (579 m) and Alto (682 m), then at c. 840 m of elevation walk on a dirt road for a short stretch rightwards. Near a ridge the footpath which leads to the suggestive locality of "Cascata dell'Acquapendente" (1070 m) is found on the left. From here follow the empty red triangle trail sign as far as Rifugio Monte Caucaso refuge located below the summit of Monte Caucaso (1245 m, circa 9 hours from the start). The refuge is managed by Mr. Maurizio Chenal (for bookings: +393473011016). Second stage: From Monte Caucaso, following the empty red triangle trail sign thorough the beech wood, reach the paved road near Barbagelata (in the little village there is another possible accommodation; telephone number +393409663470). Next to memorial for the partizans (1113 m) you find the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri (High Way of the Ligurian Mountains), turn left and follow it westwards (trail sign: red-white-red little flag and AV signed on white background). The trail goes through the woodland as far as a little road which takes to Giassina (924 m). From Giassina walk on the provincial road n. 21 as far as Passo del Portello (1032 m). Carry on walking along the Alta Via for roughly two hours as far as a pass at 773 m above the sea level where you find a footpath (trail sign: three red dots triangle). From the pass, it is recommended that you reach Passo della Scoffera pass (674 m) where you find an accommodation structure (rifugioscoffera@gmail.com; +393665679406; +393389381906; roughly 7 hours from Monte Caucaso). Third stage: Go back to the pass at 773 m above the sea level and walk downhill on the footpath signed by three red dots triangle going south-west, Pass the almost abandoned of Bragalla and find a footpath signed by two red parallel lines which leads to Sant'Alberto di Bargagli (678 m). From this locality follow the red “X” trail sign walking through Pannesi (502 m), Case Cornua (620 m) and the picturesque village of Capreno (243 m) as far as the sea, near Sori railway station (28 m).