It was definitely a walking day today and we had a route planned. We followed a path out of town and climbed up between gardens and villas on an old mule track to the hamlet of San Rocco. A huge group of teenagers were out on a school trip and while we waited for them to move on, took a great photo of the coast as far as Genova.
We bought some bits for a picnic in the local shop …
… then set off, getting a great view of Camogli and San Rocco.
There were stations of the cross made of colourful ceramics as the path climbed.
We took a detour round Monte di Portofino offering snatches of sea views …
… then a perfect picnic spot, complete with back rests and a view and tucked into a torte made of rice flavoured with cheese, onion focaccia and the vegetable torte filled with greens sold everywhere here.
A bit further and we went down on a cobbled mule track through the woods.
The track zig zagged back and forth and it seemed to go on forever … but finally we reached the monastery and hamlet of San Fruttuoso. How the remains of this saint were buried here is unknown, but there has been a monastery here since at least 984. In 1200 the Abbey was given some land and became connected with the Doria family who were allowed to bury their dead here in exchange for paying to extend the buildings. Over time, there were periods of disrepair then renovation and finally in 1983 the Doria Pamphili family gave the site to the FAI, the Italian National Trust enabling us to visit for free with our NT cards.
We took various pics of the church, tombs of the Doria family and a painting of Andrea Doria.
Luckily we didn’t have long to wait for the ferry … the only other way out of the bay … and 15 minutes later we were back in Camogli.
The book said the route was 7.5 miles although my step counter suggested 11 for the whole day … either way, we deserved our bowls of pasta for dinner!
Off Travelling Together 