PATHS DEIVA MARINA

Hiking Around the Val Deiva - Duration: 4 Hours

From the center of town, one must climb up the provincial road that runs along the Deiva stream for two kilometers. After having passed the gas station (by about 200 meters), one must take a dirt path to the right. It crosses the stream and, near the ford, one must take a small path to the left that begins to slope upwards behind an old, abandoned building.
The forest includes both Mediterranean and mountainous features, with stunning specimens of Quercus suber cork-oaks. One thus reaches the Case Vigo hamlet, whence, to the left, one may reach the castle ruins in Monte Vigo, an ancient Pre-Roman settlement that dates back to the Iron Age. By proceeding to the right of the small crest, one reaches trail number 14 V, which leads to Costa di Framura through a splendid forest teeming with rich, majestic specimens of cork-trees, oaks, holm-oaks, chestnuts, and a huge wild berry bush. The village constitutes a typical medieval Ligurian hamlet, over which towers an ancient Carolingian Tower. Having reached the village and taking a left, one may take trail number 15 towards Castagnola, where, after having crossed the stream by the same name, one may deviate towards the area's local environmental protection agency and the Passano peaks with their ancient castle. Proceeding along trail 17, one reaches the Ca di Lazino hamlet, whence one begins the descent down the mountain. The vegetation becomes sparse and barren due to the ophitic effusive rock formations that are very basic and on which thus grow extremely rare plants, such as Santolina ligustica, or aromatic herbs such as thyme. Having reached the paved road, to the right one may admire red jasper rock formations, a type of very hard sedimentary rock that was also used by prehistoric man. A little ways to the left, one may find the deviation for the Valdeiva campgrounds.