Riomaggiore, on the Cinque Terre. In the distance along the coast Corniglia and Monterosso-al-Mare are also visible
Location: Cinque Terre National Park.
Length: 25km for the Sentiero Azzurro No2, but this can be lengthened by walking up into the surrounding hills.
Difficulty: The sections vary from wide pavements to narrow trails, but it is never particularly challenging.
The view: A dramatic mountain range that drops steeply into the sea. Five beautiful villages divide up the path and provide perfect resting points from which to admire the view.
Don’t miss: Ligurian food is world-famous. It is the home of pesto and specialises in fish and seafood. When you get to Manarola, enjoy some of the best gelato in Italy at Gelateria Cinque Terre.
Pros: A breath-taking view over the Ligurian Sea on one side and the Apennine Mountains on the other. It’s not difficult to see why this place inspired romantic poets such as Byron and Shelley. It can be done as a day trip from Genoa or Florence, and varying trails offer a range of difficulty levels. The villages act as useful resting points to eat, swim in the sea and relax.
Cons: This is probably the most tourist-plagued of the hikes. Taking the main path (Sentiero Azzurro No2) costs 5 euros and you will not be alone, especially during peak seasons! The popularity of this area also means that eating and sleeping here is not cheap.