A long loop hike starting from Rapallo, touching some of the most evocative places in the Portofino Park and crossing a wide variety of landscapes.
The route begins in Via Gattorno, the road that climbs to the right at the start of Via Aurelia Ponente, passing beside the police headquarters; this section is part of the Sentiero Liguria, a long-distance trail of about 700 kilometres connecting the Ligurian coast from Ventimiglia to Luni.
After about 200 metres on the road climbing between the houses, the trail marker 
indicates a right turn onto Via Costaguta Romana, a path that runs higher up through vegetation before crossing Via Gattorno again and continuing along a stone and concrete staircase.
At a junction, continue left around a house; those wishing to make a short detour can take the path on the right and reach, in about 5 minutes, the small church in the woods dedicated to Saints Gervasio and Protasio.
After an initial level section offering panoramic glimpses over Rapallo, the mule track continues uphill to the right along a stone staircase between terraced fields and dry-stone walls, ending at the beginning of the paved Via San Lorenzo.
Follow the asphalt road, still pleasant thanks to its elegant villas and open views over San Michele di Pagana and the Golfo del Tigullio, before taking the trail again on the right, which continues for a level stretch.
A concrete climb through the woods leads to Via Torre San Gioacchino, the road that soon reaches the Via Aurelia at San Lorenzo della Costa.
Continuing for a few metres along the provincial road, you reach the parish church of San Lorenzo della Costa, with a bar nearby.
Leaving the church behind, at the junction continue on the staircase to the right, which leads to Via Simone Stefani. Follow this paved road to the left, along the FIE trail marker 
, for about 700 metres to Dolcina Bassa.
Here continue right on the uphill path, crossing the houses of Dolcina Alta before resuming the climb through the woods, which ends at Portofino Vetta. From here continue left along the main trail to Gaixella, a junction with a table, benches and a drinking water fountain.
Following the trail marker 
, descend right into the woods along a route crossing a cool, shaded valley until reaching an altar in the forest, the final station of the Via Crucis that begins in San Rocco di Camogli.
The mule track descends towards the village, now in a more open and sunny landscape, among typical Ligurian terraces planted with olive and fruit trees. The view over the Golfo Paradiso becomes even more spectacular upon reaching the colourful houses of Galletti.
The concrete staircase ends on the church square of San Rocco di Camogli, where there is a drinking water fountain, as well as two bars and a bakery/grocery store.
The route continues along another section of the Sentiero Liguria: a level seaside walk that follows Via Mortola, a pedestrian road also used by residents on scooters, leading to the hamlet of Mortola, a picturesque cluster of houses set in a rural landscape.
Continuing straight ahead, the trail enters the woods, passing a fresh water spring and reaching the junction of Fornelli, where the uphill route is ignored in order to keep following the direction marked by 
.
A narrow woodland path, with alternating short climbs and descents and a few rocky passages, leads to a final brief ascent up to the Sentinella, a Second World War military post with a wide view over the coastline.
In a few minutes you reach Batterie, an area of the Portofino Park of great historical and scenic interest: in addition to the views, the former positions occupied by German troops during the Second World War are still visible, well integrated among the vegetation.
After a few metres towards the imposing Monte Campana, take the path on the left, marked with 
. It climbs over stony ground surrounded by Mediterranean scrub, alternating with some woodland sections, until reaching the foot of Semaforo Nuovo, a much-loved corner of the Park thanks to its panorama and the presence of tables and benches, ideal for a picnic.
Now follow 
towards Toca, a trail junction equipped with a table and benches. From here take the rightmost path, marked in the same way, leading to the southern side of the Portofino Promontory.
This very panoramic trail proceeds mostly level, with a few short ups and downs, overlooking the sea and offering evocative passages over conglomerate rock, as well as outstanding viewpoints over San Fruttuoso di Camogli and the surrounding coves.
A gently descending woodland section leads to Pietre Strette, one of the main crossroads of the Park, where several trails meet among the characteristic rock formations. A small rest area with tables, benches and a drinking water fountain has been set up here.
Walking along the wide gravel path, follow the direction of Portofino Mare to the right for about 300 metres, then take the path on the left descending towards Santa Margherita Ligure, marked with 
.
High earth and rock steps lead down through the woods, followed by a flatter section. Ignoring all junctions to the right and left, continue on the rough, steep path that descends to the last house of Via Costasecca.
After a paved section serving the houses in the area, the old staircase resumes, descending between dry-stone walls and garden houses, offering several panoramic glimpses over Santa Margherita Ligure, reached in about 15 minutes.
At the bottom of the descent, continue for a few metres into Piazza Mazzini: keep left, passing below the Town Hall, then continue right along Via Luisito Costa, which leads to Viale Rainusso.
Now continue right and then left along Via Roma to reach and pass the railway station, until finding Via Banchi on the left, a staircase that climbs over the railway line. Follow it to the top, continuing straight at the junction, pass beside a few houses, then descend right on Salita Banchi and continue straight until reaching a staircase indicating the direction for Rapallo.
Ignore the staircase and turn left, following the path that descends between high property walls into the centre of San Michele di Pagana, a seaside hamlet of Rapallo with bars and restaurants.
Remaining inland, skirt around the houses to take Via Meucci on the right, followed immediately by Via degli Aranci. At the end of the paved road, a steep staircase leads to the start of Via San Nicola, a pedestrian path on the right that continues level among greenery and elegant villas, ending on the Aurelia di Ponente at a bend.
After a small chapel on the right, Via Ponte Annibale begins: a pedestrian lane descending between apartment buildings and ending near the Ponte Annibale in Rapallo, where this long loop itinerary comes to an end.
