Sentiero Azzurro: Corniglia to Vernazza Segment
The stretch of the famous Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail, Trail No. 2) running north from Corniglia to Vernazza is widely considered the most dramatic and least crowded section of the entire Cinque Terre path — a 4-kilometre route that clings to vertiginous cliffs, dips through ancient terraced vineyards and rewards walkers with views that no road can replicate.
The Trail Experience
From Corniglia's northern edge the path climbs immediately into a canopy of macchia mediterranea — rosemary, myrtle and wild fennel — before opening onto exposed cliff-face ledges where the sea is a sheer drop below and swifts wheel at eye level. The trail is well-maintained but narrow, with some sections cut directly into the rock face.
After roughly two kilometres you reach a high saddle with a bench and a water fountain — the ideal place to stop, drink and photograph the full arc of coastline from Corniglia behind you to the tower of Vernazza ahead. The descent into Vernazza through the vineyard terraces is steep but shaded.
Practicalities and Wildlife
The trail is managed by the Cinque Terre National Park and requires a Cinque Terre Card (€7.50 for a one-day trekking card in 2024), which also covers the train between villages. Cards are sold at the park offices in each station.
In spring the path is lined with wild orchids and asphodels; in autumn the same terraces are draped with drying anchovies and harvested grapes. Peregrine falcons nest on the cliff faces and are regularly spotted by patient walkers in the early morning.
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