Discover Vignana: Hillside Location, Local History and Hiking Trails

Vignana combines a distinctive elevated location, a historic townscape and hiking trails with clearly defined route characteristics. Here, the areas of Vignana Soprana and Vignana Sottana, tangible evidence in the center and historic connections through the landscape come together for you.

Hillside Location and Settlement Structure

Vignana Soprana lies on a steep slope at 220 meters above sea level and at a branch of the ancient mule track from Montale to the nearby Foce of the same name. Vignana Sottana is a polygonally laid-out settlement at the top of a promontory approximately 190 meters high. The polygonal layout and the location on the promontory form a different type of settlement from the steep slope of Vignana Soprana. In Vignana's historic center, a vaulted gateway has been preserved at the entrance to the lower part of the village, Vignana Sottana.

Historical Traces in Vignana Sottana

The Cappella di San Bernardo is located in Vignana Sottana. It is first mentioned in a document from the 13th century. The year 1630 can be seen on the oldest plasterwork; the only bell bears the engraved year 1632. The chapel is therefore located in the same part of the village where the vaulted gateway has been preserved at the entrance in the historic center.

Hiking Trails with Different Profiles

The ancient mule track from Pastine to Prati di Bardellone-Pianesia has a branch leading to Vignana. When choosing your route, it is therefore crucial that Vignana is connected to this historic route via this branch.

For your planning, these connections differ: the ancient mule track names Pastine and Prati di Bardellone-Pianesia as points along its route and Vignana as a branch. On the Via dei Monti, by contrast, the route information refers to the section between Vignana and Cà Vagine.

The Via dei Monti is relevant for orientation on another trail. It is equipped with CAI waymarkers, from Vignana through to and including the section between Vignana and Cà Vagine; CAI is the Italian Alpine Club. The section between Vignana and Cà Vagine also involves challenging changes in elevation. When planning this section, the elevation profile should therefore be part of your considerations from the outset. Breaks can be planned around the climb rather than based solely on distance. For a stage between Vignana and Cà Vagine, the route and physical pacing must therefore be considered together. That is why the climbs are part of the stage planning.

Another clearly defined hiking route is Trail 545, which follows the route “Molino delle Ghiare – Vignana – Monte Pistone,” is classified as moderately difficult and is 5 km long. Its average duration is 2 hours. The stated duration of two hours is an average guideline for planning your day; you can consider the five kilometers separately as the distance. The moderate difficulty rating supplements the distance with information about the level of challenge.

More Places for Your Travel Planning

Also discover Sarzana, Monterosso Al Mare, Piana Battolla, Carro, Torza, Ameglia, Fiumaretta di Ameglia and Bovecchio.

For the overview of the wider area: La Spezia.