Mangialonga - Gastronomic walk
A total of 300 tickets are available at a cost of €15 per person; children up to 5 years old can participate free of charge. Registration and payment can be completed at the following link: https://speziarisorse.it/servizi-online/mangia-longa/
Participants will gather in Piazza Europa on 16th May 2026 at 10:00 a.m., where they will be divided into groups and accompanied by guides from the CAI La Spezia.
Participants are required to wear suitable clothing, in particular appropriate footwear.
The route starts from Piazza Europa (highlighted in green on the attached map), ascending the staircase toward the cathedral and reaching the starting point of trail no. 224. Trail no. 224, known as “Sotto le Mura,” begins at Piazzale Papa Giovanni XXIII and climbs steeply to the caponier of the city’s 19th-century walls. It then continues with a gentle elevation gain toward Villa Podestà (Sorriso Francescano) along a wide gravel road.
From Villa Podestà to the junction with trail no. 225, the path becomes narrower and steeper, especially in the final section near the junction.
Following trail 224, participants reach Porta Isolabella, the first stop of the Mangialonga, where they can taste high-quality honey from the Neo Aristeo farm paired with local cheeses.
Trail no. 224 is approximately 2,550 meters long. From here, trail 225 leads to Sarbia, first along a wide track and then via an ancient staircase (approximately 500 meters in total). From Sarbia, the route continues along a highly scenic section of the Alta Via del Golfo (approximately 3,100 meters), passing through the village of Strà, climbing the staircase leading to the Pieve di Marinasco, and following a paved road section from the church down to La Foce. At the Pieve di Marinasco, the second tasting stop is organized by the social cooperatives Il Cedro and Il Sicomoro.
On the panoramic churchyard, participants can enjoy focaccia with vegetables in oil, pizza, and traditional vegetable pies from the local area. Upon reaching La Foce, participants will take an ancient staircase leading to the village of Cozzano, where they can enjoy a plate of pasta al pesto—considered the king of sauces—at the agriturismo Mamma Chica. After leaving Cozzano, the route returns to La Foce, from where participants can climb along the Parodi road to Sant’Anna. Here, at Sant’Anna Hostel, a group of enthusiastic young hosts will offer delicious crostoni topped with Monterosso anchovies. Leaving Sant’Anna Hostel, the route descends to the final stop of this panoramic walk, under the shade of the historic centuries-old holm oak at La Gira, where the Tartarini family will offer homemade desserts and a cup of coffee to conclude the day. From here, participants will take trail no. 521, which leads via a scenic staircase to Rebocco in Via Monfalcone (approximately 2,400 meters), or alternatively descend along the main road to the curve near La Gira restaurant, where a connecting path leads back to trail 521 and then to Via Monfalcone (approximately 2,000 meters).
The total route length is approximately 8,200–8,600 meters.
Upon arrival in Rebocco, a shuttle bus service will take participants back to Piazza Europa.
Refreshment stops along the route:
- Porta Isolabella (1st stop): honey and local cheeses
- Pieve di Marinasco (2nd stop): focaccia, pizza, vegetable pies
- Cozzano (3rd stop – agriturismo): pasta al pesto
- Sant’Anna (4th stop – Sant’Anna Hostel): crostoni with anchovies
- La Gira (final stop): desserts and coffee