MTB in Italy’s Sestri Levante — a dive into the blue

Italy’s Sestri Levante is a Ligurian town that’s well known to mountain bikers and particularly appreciated by enduro enthusiasts. In fact, for several years it was chosen as a stage of the Superenduro circuit and still hosts a stage of the Enduro Winter Trophy championship once a year.

Sandwiched between the Ligurian Alps and the sea, Sestri Levante stretches along an isthmus that connects the coast to a rocky promontory locally called 'l'Isola'. The isthmus is home to the houses of the historic centre, which are reflected in the waters of the two bays of 'Le Favole' and 'del Silenzio', located to the west and east of the isthmus respectively. This is why Sestri Levante is also known as the 'city of two seas'.

What makes mountain biking adventures in Sestri Levante special is the location of the trails overlooking the sea. From the trails, there’s a splendid view of the entire Gulf of Tigullio and, looking westwards, you can see the outline of the Portofino promontory.

The trails included in this Collection are the three best known mountain bike trails in Sestri Levante: Sant'Anna, Mimose and Ca' Gianca. The trails start from the summit of Monte Costello, which can be reached from the centre of Sestri Levante after about 30 minutes of uphill cycling. For those who wish to conserve their energy for the descent, it’s possible to use the shuttle service, whose departure point is usually the Sestri Levante hospital car park.

These itineraries aren’t for everyone: the trails each involve technical descents that require good riding experience. The terrain is steep and rocky in places but the trails are quite smooth, suitable for riding at speed. So at the very least, get yourself a good mountain bike (preferably full-suspension and with at least 140 millimetres of travel), a snug-fitting helmet (preferably full-face), a pair of knee pads and some bike gloves. Wearing elbow pads and a bib is not a bad idea either.

I recommend tackling the itineraries in autumn and spring, when temperatures are not yet high and the trails are quite dry due to the low rainfall.

You can reach Sestri Levante by car or by regional and intercity trains, on some of which you can transport your bike without dismantling it. High-speed trains don’t stop here, so to reach Sestri Levante you must change at La Spezia or Genoa, depending on which direction you’re coming from. You can also transport your bike on high-speed trains, but it must be disassembled and stored in a bag. You can find all information on transporting your bike by train at this link: trenitalia.com/en/services/travelling_with_yourbike.html. The airports of Genoa and Milan are also a good starting point to reach Sestri Levante.

The relaxed atmosphere of the historical centre of Sestri Levante makes it a lovely place to stay and there’s also the possibility of taking a dip in the clear water of the two bays. You can also enjoy a stroll along the waterfront or through the narrow streets of the isthmus in search of a restaurant where you can eat a good plate of trofie al pesto or fresh fish. What better way to end an intense day of mountain biking?