A loop itinerary starting from Passo del Biscia, the mountain pass that divides the provinces of Genoa and La Spezia. It presents no particular difficulties and crosses small villages before climbing to the summit of Monte Baralucco.
Passo del Biscia can be reached from Lavagna by following the SP 33 to the “Settembrin” roundabout and then taking the SP 26 to the right. From the La Spezia side, exit at Brugnato and follow the direction of Varese Ligure, then continue on the SP 57.
There is a convenient parking area at the pass.
There are no water sources along the route.
The trail starts on the opposite side of the parking area, following the dirt road that begins just behind the bend. The first four kilometers are easy, along a wide track with gentle ups and downs, offering views of the villages in the valley ahead and the ridges separating it from the Val Graveglia.
After passing Cerreta, named after the single house located there, you reach a junction where you leave the main path (which passes through Valletti) and take the road climbing to the right, reaching La Villa di Valletti, a small group of houses that can be visited with a short detour to the left.
Continuing uphill through the woods, you pass some abandoned rural buildings before reaching a house surrounded by cultivated land, overlooking the Val di Vara.
The road re-enters the forest and, after passing a beautiful stone house in the locality of Le Moggie di Valletti, descends to a paved road, which you follow to the right to climb to Sbaraglia, a small group of scattered houses among the meadows.
After a few more meters uphill, you reach Colle di Valletti (776 m), a quiet village gathered around the ancient Church of the Holy Trinity, where only a few inhabitants live today, but which offered refuge to many partisans during World War II.
A recommended place to stop and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Several trails start from here; our itinerary continues along the road climbing to the right of the hiking network panel, in the direction of Cappella della Costa.
After passing the house, you enter the woods and continue along a wide dirt road that passes in front of a picnic area with a fountain (water not guaranteed to be potable), near what remains of the Casun di Brichetti.
Continue climbing through the woods until reaching a junction on the right for the Cappella della Costa, an out-and-back section leading to a beautiful clearing equipped with wooden tables and benches, and the chapel overlooking the Val di Vara.
Back on the main track, continue climbing until reaching a signpost. Ignore the other directions and keep right to climb towards Monte Baralucco (1006 m), a secondary summit reached with a short but pleasant ascent.
From the top, there are wide views over the valley, including a beautiful view of nearby Monte Verruga. Returning to the junction, follow the path towards "Fontana da Segà", a narrow dirt trail that runs mostly flat with slight climbs through the pine forest, reaching the fountain (1020 m), where a sign indicates that the water is not guaranteed to be drinkable.
The trail, characterized by rocky outcrops, climbs in a few minutes to Colla delle Matite (1028 m), where a sign indicates the direction back to Passo del Biscia.
The landscape now changes, as the trail descends gently through a pine forest, joining the Alta Via delle 5 Terre on a dirt road where a small white building serves as a forestry shelter.
Below the pine forest there is a shaded picnic area.
Following the wide dirt road, which offers fine views of Monte Porcile, you return to Passo del Biscia in about 15 minutes.
