Did you know that it is now possible to walk to the sea from Milan? The Trail of the Celts and Ligurians starts from Milan and arrives in Liguria, in Sestri Levante. The trail crosses as many as 3 regions: Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Liguria. What a magical adventure. Perfect now that the grip of the heat seems to be easing.
The sea of Liguria is always a coveted place, not only by the Milanese but by the world. It is no coincidence that a Ligurian town has been called the most beautiful in the world.
If you want to go to the sea in an alternative way take a look at the following route. It will make you discover the area with new eyes. Tiring? Maybe yes, but after the fatigue you will arrive at the beach!!!
How is the trail structured?
In all, there are 12 stages in a route that stretches 218 kilometers. From the Duomo, passing through the Darsena per you continue along the Naviglio Pavese until you reach Pavia. Leaving Pavia, the route runs along the Ticino River through its park until it reaches the confluence with the Po River.
To reach Oltrepo Pavese and discover the beautiful vineyards, you will board a small boat. The fourth stage leads to explore the Tidone Valley, where the first climbs begin. And in the distance you begin to see Mount Penna, a sacred mountain for the Celtic Ligurians.
Then we move on to the most beautiful valley in the world according to Ernest Hemingway: Val Trebbia. In Bobbio to see is St. Columba’s Abbey, founded by the father of “Celtic monacesim”, and the famous Ponte Gobbo bridge.
Once you have seen Val Nure and Val d’Aveto (8th and 9th stages), here is where you reach Mount Penna (10th stage). Its name is said to derive from the god Pen, worshipped by the ancient Ligurian Celts. That is why it is considered sacred and is still a place of great spirituality.
The penultimate stage will have you face the last climb before the sea. You will cross the beech forest of Mount Zatta to admire a fantastic panorama. From here you can see the waters of the Tigullio Gulf. The 11th stage leads to the discovery of the landscapes of Val Graveglia, characterized by karst areas, granite, jasper quarries and manganese mines.
After traveling many kilometers and visiting wonderful natural places, the Celts and Ligurians Trail brings the visitor directly to the waterfront of Sestri Levante, the 12th and final stage of the route . A place to discover with the two famous bays of Silenzio and Favole.
More useful info on tackling the Celts and Ligurians Trail
The Trail, after a testing phase in which organizers worked on creating a mapping and researching accommodations, is finally open. As of May 21, 2023, it is possible to hike it on your own without necessarily relying on the Trail’s wonderful sentinels (previously this was necessary because the trail was undergoing development and there were no signposts). To stay updated, visit the official website or their social pages: Instagram and Facebook. Or you can contact the organizers at the following email: info@sentierodeicelti.it
The Trail of the Celts and Ligurians tackles both mountainous, hilly and flat terrain. Each person can choose the stage that best suits his or her walking experience. For those new to the trail, we recommend joining one of the trips organized by the Trail Sentinels visible on their social pages.