builds ships. Near the station are pretty gardens and the church of Madonna dell' Orto (1613), now the cathedral, with a large portico added in 1835. The ruined Castle dates from the 12th century. Fine view from the mouth of the river, at the E. end of the town.

Picturesque walk by the old Ponte della Maddalena, the highest up of the bridges over the Entella, to (3/4 hr.) the late-Romanesque church of San Salvatore, erected in 1244-52; adjacent is an old palace of the Fieschi (see below). Viâ San Ruffino di Levi to the Madonna di Montallegro, see p. 136.

From Chiavari a road runs N. viâ Carasco (100 ft.) into the Sturla Valley, in which are the villages of Borgonuovo and (10 M.) Borzonasca (510 ft.; several inns). From the former a road diverges to the N.E., running via the Passo del Bocco (3125 ft.) to the little summer and pilgrims' resort of Santa Maria del Taro (2340 ft.; inn). A bridle-path (mule 5 fr.) connects Borzonasca with (11/2 hr.) Prato Sopra la Croce (1845 ft.; Alb. del Club Alpino, R. 1 fr., well spoken of; Hôt.-Pens. Pittaluga), a favourite summer-resort in the Penna Valley (old chestnut woods), near a cold mineral spring. Prato is the starting-point for the ascent of the Monte Aiona (5580 ft.; 32 hrs.; views) and of the rugged greenstone peak of the Monte Penna (5695 ft.; 41-5 hrs.), whence the descent may be made via the Casa del Penna (4395 ft.; good beds) to (22 hrs.) Santa Maria del Taro (see above).

251/2 M. Lavagna (Alb. Nazionale), a ship-building place with 5300 inhab., was the seat of the Counts Fieschi until 1198 and the birthplace of Sinibaldo de' Fieschi, afterwards Pope Innocent IV. (1243-54). Ascent of Monte Capenardo viâ Cogorno, see p. 138. 27 M. Cavi, at the mouth of a charming ravine.

2812 M. Sestri Levante. HOTELS. Grand-Hôtel Jensch, in an open situation on the W. bay, with garden, 190 beds from 4, B. 11/2, L. 312, D. 5, P. 10-16, omn. 3/4-11/4 fr.; Hôt. d'Europe et Miramare, on the S. bay, R. 4-6 B. 12, L. 3, D. 4, P. 8-12 fr., good; Alb. Roma, with good restaurant. Ristorante Florida, near the station, clean.

Caffè Centro, near the post-office; Osteria Marcone (wine).

POST & TELEGRAPH OFFICE, Via Carlo Alberto, the main street. SEA BATHS at the Stabilimento Nettuno (also theatre), on the W. bay. CARRIAGE to Chiavari with one horse 5, with two horses 7 fr.; to Rapallo 12 and 20 fr.; to Portofino or Ruta 15 and 30 fr. to Chiavari hourly (40 c.).

OMNIBUS

Sestri Levante, probably the Roman Segesta Tiguliorum, a small seaport with 3000 inhab., is situated on the flat and fertile isthmus which connects the plain at the mouth of the streamlet Grómolo with the Isola (230 ft.; once an island), an abrupt and picturesque sandstone cape. The shallow W. bay commands an extensive view of the Gulf of Rapallo (p. 133); the small S. bay has steep wooded banks. Sestri is visited for sea-bathing in summer by Italians and as a winter-resort by nervous patients, while its beautiful and well-wooded environs attract numerous pleasure tourists. Its winter - temperature (46.4° Fahr.) is lower than that of other Riviera stations as it is not so well sheltered from the N. wind, but the sun is longer visible and the atmosphere is drier.

The pretty Coast Promenade, on the W. bay, near the station, and the adjoining Giardino Pubblico are the favourite resorts of

visitors. From the harbour, at the S. extremity of the bay, we may follow the picturesque road to the end of the promontory, and ascend past the Guardie di Finanza (coast-guard station) to the Villa Piuma (ring at the upper gate, No. 4; fee 25-40 c.). Passing below the mansion and beyond a 'castle' (view), we round the cape to the right, with its fine pines and undergrowth. - Good views of the S. bay are obtained on the way to the old Campo Santo (from the harbour to the left by the church), from the Capuchin Monastery, and from the Villa Mandrella (visitors ring; fee 25 c.).

EXCURSIONS. Pleasant walk to the S.E. to Riva (p. 139), viâ the villages of Pila and San Bartolomeo (1 hr.; boat from Sestri 2-3 fr.). The Telégrafo (576 ft.), or signal-station, on the S. spur of the Monte Castello (870 ft.), which commands a *View of the bay of Riva and of the coast as far as the promontory of Portofino, may be ascended in 1 hr. by a new path from the Via della Chiusa. Attractive return routes lead via the Nuovo Cimitero or to the N.E. via the Madonna del Bosco (fine view of the coast and the Petronio valley), whence we descend among oaks and strawberry-trees (arbutus unedo; in blossom in Nov. and Dec.) to the railway and the Via della Chiusa. A steep footpath, diverging to the right from the Chiavari road before the tunnel and affording fine views, leads past the ruined chapel of Sant'Anna to Cavi (p. 137). A bridle-path ascends to the N. from Sant' Anna to the (21/2 hrs.) top of the Monte Capenardo (2270 ft.; view). Descent to the W. to Cogorno and Lavagna (p. 137). Carriage-road viâ Pila to the copper-mines of Santa Vittoria and Libiolo, in the Gromolo valley.

The HIGHROAD FROM SESTRI TO SPEZIA (351/2 M.; carriage 25, with two horses 45 fr.) diverges to the right from the road to Borgotaro (see below) beyond Pila (see above), and from (2 M.) Trigoso winds up the scantily wooded mountains (short-cuts for walkers), affording a fine retrospect of Sestri and the Monte Castello, to the magnificently situated Casa Bertollo. (The dairy of Casaggi, a little to the right, is another fine point of view.) Thence we follow the N. side of the Monte Moneglia (1710 ft.), and, in view of the sea, reach the prettily situated village of (712 M.) Bracco (1310 ft.; inn), whence a footpath descends on the S. to Moneglia (p. 139). We now traverse a bleak mountain-district viâ Baracchino to (111/2 M.) Baracca (1930 ft.; inn). A picturesque road leads hence to the right, passing quarries of so-called red marble, to Bonassola and (812 M.) Levanto (p. 139). Our road. however, descends past (1612 M.) Carrodano Inferiore (555 ft.; omn. to Spezia) to (2212 M.) Borghetto di Vara (360 ft.; Alb. Europa, modest; Caffè Conti, with rooms), in the valley of the Vara, an affluent of the Magra. The road skirts the broad, gravelly bed of the river and runs up and down to (30 M.) Riccò (460 ft.) and the pass of (33 M.) La Foce (p. 141), on the last height before Spezia, whence we enjoy a magnificent prospect of the bay and the precipitous Alpi Apuane (R. 24). We then descend to (351/2 M.) Spezia (p. 140).

FROM SESTRI TO BORGOTARO, 41 M. (omn. to Varese twice daily in 41/2 hrs.). The picturesque road leads to the E. from Pila (see above) via Sara to (3 M.) Casarza Ligure (110 ft.), in the Petronio valley, and thence past the copper-mines (on the left) to the hamlet of Bargonasco. It then mounts rapidly viâ (7 M.) Castiglione Chiavarese (890 ft.), Missano, and (11 M.) Velva (inn) to the (121/2 M.) Passo di Velva (1790 ft.; inn), commanding a fine view of the Apennines and the sea. On the summit is a pilgrimage-church (Madonna della Guardia), built in 1895. We descend to (21 M.) Varese Ligure (1130 ft.; Alb. della Posta), cross the (29 M.) Passo di Cento Croci (3445 ft.) to the Albergo Cento Croci, at the foot of Mte. Zuccone (4670 ft.), and descend viâ the Monte Alto (1445 ft.) to (41 M.) Borgotaro (p. 449). A bridle-path, following the ridge

of the Apennines to the S.E. from the Passo di Cento Croci, leads viâ the Monte Scassella (4030 ft.) to the Monte Gottero (p. 450) in 2 hrs.

The railway now intersects the picturesque hilly district of Sestri. Beyond (31 M.) Riva-Trigoso, with a shipyard, tunnels succeed each other in rapid succession all the way to Spezia. Several fine glimpses of the sea and the rocky coast to the right. 3412 M. Moneglia, birthplace of Luca Cambiaso (1527-85; p. 101), the painter, has two old castles. - 371/2 M. Deiva, at the entrance to a side-valley; 39 M. Framura. 41 M. Bonassóla, with sea-baths and a ruined castle. To Baracca, see p. 138.

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43 M. Lévanto. HOTELS. *Grand-Hôtel, 90 beds at 3-5, B. 12, L. 31/2, D. 41/2, P. 8-10, omn. 1 fr.; Stella d'Italia, with restaurant, R. 21/2-31/2, B. 1, P. 7-72 fr., *Hôtel Savoie, R. 21/2-3, B. 1, L. 21/2, D. 3, P. 6-8 fr., these two English; *Hôt. National, R. 2-4 fr., B. 80 c., P. incl. wine 6-7 fr.; all these have gardens; Alb. Europa, modest. ANGLICAN CHURCH SERVICE (Jan. to April) at the St. Columban Chapel in the Palazzo Bonaventura (chaplain, Rev. R. T. Marshall). ENGLISH PHYSICIAN, Dr. Beeby.

Levanto, a quiet town, winter-resort, and sea-bathing place, with 2700 inhab., occupies a sheltered situation on a semicircular bay, at the mouth of a short and wide mountain valley, commanded by the wooded summits of the Monte Róssola (1845 ft.) and the Monte Vè (1620 ft.). It possesses an old citadel and well preserved medieval town-walls. In the neighbourhood is an old abbey. In clear weather the snow-covered peaks of the Cottian Alps (Monte Viso, etc.) may be descried to the W.

From the bridle-path to Monterosso (see below) a footpath diverges to the right, beyond the (1 hr.) summit of the pass, and follows the telegraphpoles to the (2 hr.) Punta del Mesco (1020 ft.), a promontory with a signal-post, a ruined chapel, and fine view of the Cinque Terre (descent to Monterosso, 3/4 hr.). From Levanto to Baracca, see p. 138.

Beyond the Punta del Mesco (tunnel, 11/, M. long) follow the villages of the Cinque Terre, occupying very sheltered situations but cut off from each other by lofty cliffs. Oranges, lemons, and wine are largely produced here; the vines are in many cases trained upon wire over the gorges of the streamlets and on the face of sheer cliffs, accessible only by ladders or ropes.

46 M. Monterosso al Mare (inn) has a Gothic church of 1307 and a lofty ruined castle. The pilgrimage chapel of Madonna di Soviore (1535 ft.), 11/4 hr. to the N.E., contains a very ancient image of the Virgin. Fine view from the (3/4 hr.) chapel of Santa Croce (2025 ft.), whence we may descend to Vernazza.

48 M. Vernazza (196 ft.), with a ruined castle, is situated on the edge of an overhanging cliff. The Monte Malpertuso (2690 ft.) may be ascended hence in 21/2 hrs.; descent to Corniglia, to Riomaggiore or viâ Biassa (p. 141) to Spezia. Beyond Vernazza we pass the débris of an extensive landslip (1853-62).

50 M. Corniglia, with an old church. 51 M. Manarola, 5111⁄2 M. Riomaggiore (inn). About 3 M.

with a ruined castle.