Volastra: Village, Church and Hiking Trails

Volastra is an old hilltop village on the Ligurian Riviera, situated at an altitude of 300 metres. The settlement is laid out in the shape of an amphitheatre; small houses and cobbled caruggi define its appearance. Vineyards and, in particular, olive groves characterise the surrounding area. When planning your trip, you can consider the village, landscape and trails as distinct areas of interest. The routes differ in their course and in the landscapes characteristic of each one.

Hiking Trails and Landscape

Trail 586 runs from Volastra to the junction with trail 587, just below the hamlet of Case Pianca. It passes through terraced vineyards with dry-stone walls that are still in good condition, then continues into a forest of Pinus pinaster. The transition from vineyard terraces to pine forest defines this section of the route.

Trail 585 is an old mule track connecting Volastra with the watershed between the sea and the Vara River. On the southeastern slope of Monte Le Croci, it climbs through chestnut forest to Sella Monte Galera. By comparison, trail 585 focuses on the historic mule track and the climb through chestnut forest, while trail 586 links terraced vineyards with pine forest.

Trail 506 runs from Manarola through cultivated olive groves and then passes through the village of Volastra. There is a fountain along the route in Volastra; check its availability locally. The routes also differ in their landscape: olive groves characterise trail 506, while trail 586 features terraced vineyards and dry-stone walls.

Trail 530 follows the road known as the Strada dei Santuari from its southern endpoint at Colle del Telegrafo AV5T to Volastra. The entire route is accessible to vehicles and has potential for use as a cycling route. In the area between Riomaggiore, Montenero, Volastra, Groppo and Manarola, you can organise hikes through the terraced landscape of varying duration and difficulty. When making specific plans, check the latest information about available services and the status of your chosen trails.

Church and Local History

Among Volastra’s cultural attractions is the church of Nostra Signora della Salute, also known as Our Lady of Health. It is considered a Romanesque church dating from the 10th to 11th century. In 1240, it was mentioned under the name San Lorenzo. Local tradition, meanwhile, traces the origins of the village back to Roman times. These accounts refer to different periods: Roman times are part of the tradition about the village’s origins, while the year 1240 refers to the church being mentioned under the name San Lorenzo.

Volastra therefore offers a variety of ways to explore the area: the amphitheatre-shaped village with its caruggi, the church and its history, and trails through vineyards, olive groves and forests. When planning your stay, you can decide which aspects to prioritise depending on whether you are most interested in the village’s appearance, its cultural heritage or the landscapes along the trails.

Discover more destinations: Caranza, Tavarone, Sarzana, Levanto, Bovecchio, Vignana, Casale, Bracelli.

For the broader travel overview: La Spezia.