Rapallo - S. Maurizio dei monti - Passo della Crocetta - Pian dei merli - Rapallo

The start of this ring route is in Via Antica dei Monti (which was part of the ancient "Via del sale"), a small road that you find on the right after passing the highway bridge, indicated as "cycle route"; you can reach it by walking or driving on Via Betti.

The paved road soon gives way to concrete, and as you go up and away from your home to enter the woods, it becomes a well-maintained mule track.
In about 30 minutes you will reach the "Molitorio Complex" of San Maurizio dei Monti , a small group of rural houses with an ancient mill and an oil mill dating back to the seventeenth century, today "Museum of peasant civilization", managed by the Cultural Association "La Cipressa".

Warning: You are often greeted by a barking dog, but overall it is harmless.

After crossing the small bridge, continue passing next to some houses and after a last steep climb you will arrive on the state road that leads from Rapallo to Montallegro: cross it and go downhill for a few meters, to take, after a few garages, a concrete road that climbs and which is the continuation of the previous cycle path.

You will soon find yourself on a path that alternates between sunnier sections and shady passages, but always accompanied by the sea view.
Once again the path crosses the carriage road (shortly after the junction between Montallegro and Passo della Crocetta) and on the left you can see the convent of the Discalced Carmelite nuns; crossing the road and taking the path right in front of you you will skirt the property of the convent in a beautiful shady forest.

Again you cross the driveway passing in front of a small group of houses to quickly return to the woods and come out after a hundred meters on the asphalt road.

Going along it for about 100 meters, on the left, you will reach the Passo della Crocetta (599 meters a.s.l.); here to welcome you a delightful church already present on some topographical plans in 1600. This church called "Cappelletta SS. Crucifix ”, in addition to being a place of prayer, was intended for the shelter of travelers who had found themselves in an area caught by inclement weather.

Regarding the return it is necessary to take the path that starts right in front of the church; on the right you go up to Monte Pegge up to the Margherita refuge while to descend you have to take the flat path, not easily identifiable due to the dense vegetation.
The course, marked with 3 dots is simple and pleasant, between breathtaking views of the Gulf of Rapallo and Portofino and a beautiful and luxuriant vegetation, which at the beginning of summer turns yellow thanks to the numerous broom plants.
After crossing the path that descends from Monte Pegge the signpost to follow is the crossed circle .
Here we are in Pian dei Merli, recognizable by a beautiful lawn and some remains of stone houses, ideal for a stop before going down to the Monte delle Pozze which will take you to the Black Madonna area and then to S. Agostino recognizable by the beautiful small white church.

From here, going down and passing the restaurant on the left, after about 150 meters you turn again left to arrive after 5 minutes in Via F.lli Betti exactly at the starting point.

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