Hiking route in the inland area of Sestri Levante, featuring a very pleasant first section through small villages and a more demanding return due to a forest trail that is not always easy to follow.
The starting point is Santa Vittoria di Libiola, a hamlet located just over 3 kilometres from the Sestri Levante motorway exit.
The route begins in front of the church, where there is a convenient parking area, crossing the bridge over the Gromolo Stream towards the locality of Ponzerone.
Follow the paved road marked with 
, which climbs past attractive houses with gardens before ending in front of a small cluster of homes in Campomoneto.
Here a trail begins, crossing meadows before reaching a junction where you turn right and descend to cross a stream, then start climbing through the woods on a rocky path surrounded by typical Mediterranean vegetation.
As the climb continues, the vegetation becomes less dense and gives way to olive groves, followed by the first houses of Villa Loto, overlooking the Gromolo Valley and the surrounding peaks.
Upon reaching the road (just over an hour after departure), take the staircase climbing between the houses to reach the church of San Giacomo in Loto, located in the heart of the village and recently restored.
Following the trail markers, continue exploring the village until you reach a staircase on the left (where there is a drinking water fountain) leading into the woods.
The route continues along a long, mostly level section, ignoring two left-hand turnoffs, before tackling a final climb to Sella dei Baixin (also known as Sella Nord del Capenardo), a flat crossroads of several trails offering fine views of Sestri Levante and its bay.
Continue right along a level section and then left onto a wide dirt road descending gently to a gate that blocks vehicle access but can be passed on foot. Continue downhill to the junction leading to Sambuceto, a small hamlet in the municipality of Ne, reached in just a few minutes.
The first landmark is the Church of Saints Cyprian and Justina, with its small churchyard, an ideal place for a peaceful lunch break before continuing into the tiny village centre, made up of just a handful of houses and a small B&B.
Back on the main route, continue along the wide dirt road following the CAI trail marker 
, which proceeds mostly on level terrain with a few short ups and downs.
After about 1.5 km, the dirt road should be left in favour of a faint path on the right (marked only by a ribbon tied to a tree), but our route makes a short optional detour to visit a small chapel marked on the map.
Continue straight ahead for about 300 metres before descending left to reach the solitary stone chapel surrounded by greenery.
Return to the dirt road via the shortcut marked to the left of the chapel and retrace your steps, paying attention to the trail previously missed, which enters the forest on the left.
A steep climb through the woods follows, with no clear track or trail markers, before descending into the Val Petronio along the so-called Via dell’Amore ("Path of Love"), which, despite its name, is the least interesting section of the hike.
This is a forest descent where the path is not always obvious, and a GPX track may be useful for navigation.
After passing several abandoned rural buildings, the route becomes easier to follow and continues downhill more gently, with occasional flat stretches alongside a fence surrounding a large private property.
At a junction, follow the trail marked with 
through a mixed woodland of heather and strawberry trees before descending over rocky terrain. Some steeper sections require caution, especially when wet, until reaching the road leading to Villa Azaro.
Cross the road to join the so-called Bee Trail, named after the numerous beehives and bees found along the route.
The narrow path, enclosed by Mediterranean vegetation, descends gently and offers occasional views over the valley before ending on the road. Turn left, cross the Gromolo Stream and reach the SP88 road.
Turning right, a final ten-minute walk leads back to Santa Vittoria di Libiola, where the loop comes to an end.
