Biassa between village history and hiking trails

Biassa: village history on the way to the Cinque Terre

Biassa lies along the road leading to the Cinque Terre and combines this location with a distinct historical character. The village has been documented since at least the 13th century. Old stone houses standing close together, with beautiful portals, are grouped around San Martino and give the village a clearly recognizable architectural character.

At the center is the Church of San Martino. It is associated with a property register from 1248. The present church was created by expanding an old Romanesque chapel. Its furnishings include a precious repoussé bronze panel, a German work of art from the 15th century. Anyone interested in medieval architectural history and sacred art will find several historical layers in one place here.

The Rocca di Coderone is also one of the defining historical destinations around Biassa. It was built for defensive purposes in the mid-13th century and can be reached from Biassa. Below the fortress stood a settlement with a church dedicated to Santa Maria Maddalena; only a few ruins of this settlement remain. In this way, the history of the area extends from the densely built stone houses to fortified structures and scattered remains of older settlements.

For hikers, Route 504 Sant'Antonio–Schiara is relevant; it was formerly designated as No. 4. It leads from Biassa via a beautiful staircase on the hillside to the Gulf of La Spezia. At the Sant'Antonio Pass, it reaches an altitude of 508 m and there enters the park area. The route also leads to the Menhir di Biassa, a monolith crowned by a small cross whose origin may be pre-Christian.

Another point of orientation is the Anello Pegazzano–Brampane–Biassa circular hike. On this loop, Trails 523 and 504 begin at the same small piazza.

Biassa’s historical economy also included viticulture on the western, sea-facing slope in the Tramonti locality. There, dry-stone walls and small plots planted with vines shape the landscape; historically, these areas belonged to the communities of Biassa. Viticulture complements the village and fortress history with a side closely connected to slopes, manual labor and regional use.

The festival calendar also reflects this local history. The Festa di San Martino in Biassa is regarded as a historic and traditional festival and can be traced there back more than 25 years. In 2026, San Martino is associated with the traditional festivals of Biassa. The event “Biassa nel Medioevo” includes historical reenactments and places another emphasis on the village’s medieval past.

If you are considering accommodation in Biassa for your trip, you can assess the village according to your personal interests: San Martino and the old stone houses represent architectural and art history, the Rocca di Coderone and the ruins represent the history of fortified landscapes, while Route 504 and the Anello Pegazzano–Brampane–Biassa offer a hiking perspective. The road to the Cinque Terre and the route to the Gulf of La Spezia round out this range with a clear regional orientation.

Other places in the same area: Mattarana, Casale, Portovenere, Calice Al Cornoviglio, Framura, Colombiera-Molicciara, Ponzano Superiore and Nicola.

For the broader travel overview: La Spezia.