Tavarone: Circular Routes, Nature and Adventure

Tavarone can be explored as a destination with a 6.9-kilometre circular route, longer active routes, and nature and adventure activities. Local features also include the parish church of S. Siro, the church of S. Bartolomeo Apostolo, the “Parma Gemma” Museum in the surrounding area, and the long-standing Sagra del Fungo.

Circular routes for different plans

The CAI Anello di Tavarone circular route is 6.9 kilometres long. It starts at a car park in the southern part of Tavarone and returns to Tavarone. The route also includes a 400-metre detour to a monumental holly tree. When planning the day, the 6.9-kilometre loop and the additional section should be considered separately. The return to Tavarone makes the CAI route a loop; the detour to the holly tree remains an additional part of this route. The 400 metres are added to the 6.9-kilometre loop.

A considerably longer option is the Anello del Benessere. The 37-kilometre route is intended for trekking, mountain biking and horse riding, and includes Tavarone as well as all the hamlets of the municipality of Maissana. In Tavarone, the Centro Sportivo Tavarone also has a mountain bike course. The longer route therefore differs not only in its distance, but also in its geographical scope and the three intended uses. The three uses belong to the 37-kilometre route, while the course at the Centro Sportivo is a separate mountain bike element.

Adventure and nature in Tavarone

Parco Avventura Val di Vara offers a tree-to-tree adventure course with platforms in the trees, Tibetan and Nepalese bridges, lianas and zip lines. The course also includes a 250-metre-long zip line with a single span.

The Foresta dei Bambini course in Parco Avventura Val di Vara runs at a height of 1 to 1.5 metres above the ground. The park is located in Località Giandriale in Tavarone, within a Ligurian Sito di Interesse Comunitario, or SIC. This area is considered ecologically important because of its significant biodiversity. Its location in Località Giandriale connects the park with a clearly defined geographical and natural area. The stated height applies specifically to the Foresta dei Bambini course and should not be understood as the elevation of the entire park.

Churches, museum and local tradition

The parish of S. Siro in Tavarone already existed in 1143. N. S. della Cintura is the patron saint of the church of S. Bartolomeo Apostolo in Tavarone; the feast day is on the second Sunday in July.

The “Parma Gemma” Museum is also located in the surrounding area of Tavarone. The traditional Sagra del Fungo is part of the local food culture. It has been held in Tavarone for more than 50 years and is a regular event for porcini mushroom lovers.

More destinations

For further travel planning, you can also explore Piana Battolla, Campiglia, Sorbolo, Valeriano Lunense, Bonassola, La Foce, L'ago and Carrodano.

To the higher-level travel overview: La Spezia.