One of the loop trails I often suggest, also because it starts right from our door, is the one that explores the Cassana valley up to the historic Foce del Bardellone. It’s a complete loop, with a bit of history and some beautiful views.
Starting from here, at the Agriturismo degli Olivi, follow the right fork that carries the “Via dei Monti” trail markers. This will take you over the side of Monte Pistone, passing near a pylon (we are at an altitude of 664). You will find yourself descending into a beautiful chestnut wood to the Sella Ovest della Bandita (618 m), a point that divides the Canale di Cassana valley from that of the Rio dell’Ago. Ignore the deviation to the left for l’Ago and continue on the dirt track that descends diagonally. The road rejoins the watershed lower down, at the Sella Ovest del Castellaro (503 m), where it turns right in a slight ascent. After a few meters, pay attention to the trail markers that will tell you to leave the dirt track for a path on the left which, with a hairpin bend, crosses the ridge. After a flat section, it begins to descend again, going around Monte Castellaro.
The name of Monte Castellaro (556 m), as with other mountains in the area, is no coincidence: a very ancient fortified settlement, probably from the Bronze Age, once stood here. You can still see the remains of the dry-stone walls that surrounded the summit. You will also find a votive cross from 1945.
The path in this section is sometimes a bit damaged, so proceed with a minimum of caution. It descends to a fork where you must turn right; a flight of steps will bring you back to the dirt road you left earlier (altitude 447). At this point, the small road descends to the left, following the curves of the mountain. After passing a house with olive trees, a hairpin turn will take you to a saddle (341 m) right in front of Monte Gronde. Continue on the main road, turning right, and here a beautiful view opens up over the hamlet of Chiesa di Cassana with the Apuan Alps in the background. The small road re-enters the woods and descends gently until it becomes paved and takes you to the Foce di Cassana (from here, calculate about 2.5-3 hours from Foce del Bardellone).
From Foce di Cassana, descend on the paved road towards Borghetto di Vara. After a few meters, take a stairway on the right (white-red markers) that leads you to a secondary road. Go down to the end of the asphalt and continue straight on the flat, crossing the hamlet of La Valle. When you reach a small square, I’ll give you an important tip: ignore the trail markers that continue straight (that path has unfortunately been made impassable by briars) and instead take the cart track on the left that goes down. This small paved road will take you back to the provincial road. Follow it downhill, cross the bridge over the Canale di Cassana (altitude 160) and, just before a stone building, take the dirt track on the right for Foce del Bardellone (marker 549).
(If you were to continue straight on the asphalt, near a picnic area you would find the Grotta Risorgente di Cassana (Cassana Resurgence Cave). It is the longest in the Ligurian Apennines, about 2 km, although you wouldn’t say so from the entrance. Don’t be confused by the panel that talks about the Caverna Ossifera (Ossuary Cave), that is another cave located higher up in the woods).
The dirt track will take you into the wooded valley of the Canale di Cassana. At a fork, keep left uphill, passing the Fonte della Salute (Spring of Health). After fording the stream, the road climbs gently. After about 1 km, a sign will point out the Mulino Ferriere (232 m), once used to make agricultural tools. Continuing on, you will notice a curious rock near the stream, the “Scoggiu du Becco”. The path continues to climb gently for a good while, then it descends for a moment to cross a tributary and immediately after you ford the Canale di Cassana (there are some beautiful pools of water). A few hundred meters further on, you will cross it again on a small wooden bridge (altitude approx. 350), which replaces the old “Ponte Pè du Cucù”, destroyed by the 2011 flood.
Now the route becomes a bit more intricate. Follow the mule track, at a fork go left, pass a fallen tree, and continue on the track. At another fork, left again; after a flat stretch, round a spur and re-enter the main valley. After fording a tributary, the path climbs steeply to the right alongside a fence. After two bends, leave the fence by cutting left on the flat, then bear right, crossing a rise. After a final climb through the brushwood, you will cross a dirt track near a gate. Go straight, climbing onto the ridge; at the first fork, left, at the second, right. A few more minutes and the effort is rewarded: you are at the Foce del Bardellone (592 m) and the view opens up to the sea.
You are in an important place. The Via Aurelia and the Via de Pontremolo once crossed here, controlled in the past by the Celasco Castle. It was a strategic crossroads for the Republic of Genoa.
The return is now the easiest part. Turn right and follow the paved road on the ridge (marker AV5T), with a beautiful panorama of Levanto on one side and the Val di Vara on the other. Leave the turn-off for the “Ca’ Melana” agriturismo on your right and, at the next junction (586 m), leave the asphalt to take the right fork (marker 548). This path, passing through woods and clearings, will bring you back gently and quickly right here, to the Agriturismo degli Olivi.
Discover the Levanto, Monte Vé, Semaforo del Mesco trek