Bonassola is a village of about 750 people in the province of La Spezia, tucked into a bay between Levanto and Framura. It has a beach that is wide by Ligurian standards, a small centre around the church of Santa Caterina and, behind it, hills of olive groves and vineyards dotted with seven hamlets. The Cinque Terre begin a few kilometres east: Monterosso is a few minutes away by train.
The reason to come is the calm. Bonassola has no famous monuments and no cruise crowds. You come for the sea, a walk to the Madonnina della Punta chapel, and the flat path built on the old railway that links it to Levanto and Framura through a string of tunnels. In 2026 its beach holds the Blue Flag.
It also works well as a base for the Cinque Terre without their crowds and prices. The station is a few minutes’ walk from the beach, and regional trains run to Levanto, the five villages and west to Sestri Levante. Allow a day for the village and the bike path, three or four if you want to mix beach days, hikes and train trips.
By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on ·10 min read
Where is Bonassola?
Bonassola is in Liguria (Riviera di Levante, province of La Spezia).
You can walk around the village in an hour. The centre is a narrow strip of flat land between the beach and the hill, with the old railway line on the seafront and the current one moved behind the houses. The sights are few and close together: the church, the oratories, the two headlands that close the bay and, if you have time, the hill hamlets.
The centre and Piazza Brigata Cento Croci
The heart of the village is Piazza Brigata Cento Croci, with palm trees and painted houses around it. Narrow lanes, called carruggi, climb from here towards the church and the hill. Look up at the historic palazzi, some from the 16th century, such as Palazzo Vinzoni and Palazzo Paganetto, built by families who made their living from trade and the sea. The town hall houses a gallery devoted to the painter Antonio Discovolo, whose work you will also find in the church.
Church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria
The parish church is dedicated to the village’s patron saint, celebrated on 25 November. It was probably built in the first half of the 16th century and remodelled in the Baroque period; the bishop of Luni consecrated it in 1668. Inside are works by Giovanni Battista Carlone, Pietro Costa and Antonio Discovolo, and a processional statue group of the Madonna del Rosario from the school of Maragliano, the great Genoese wood carver. If it is locked, try again around Mass times.
Oratory of Sant'Erasmo
A few steps from the church, the former oratory of Sant’Erasmo dates from the early 1500s. Erasmus is the patron saint of sailors, a telling choice for a village that lived for centuries from fishing and sea trade. Today it hosts exhibitions and talks, so opening depends on the events calendar.
The castle and the clock tower
On the hill behind the village stand the remains of the castle that the Genoese Senate approved in 1561, when pirates raided this coast. Bonassola even had a common fund, set up in 1569, to pay ransom for villagers taken captive. What you notice today is mainly the tower with the public clock, visible from much of the village.
Madonnina della Punta chapel
This is the walk not to miss. At the end of the bay, on a rocky spur above the sea, stands the small chapel of the Madonnina della Punta. The Poggi family had it built at the end of the 17th century; the columned porch was added in a 1932 restoration. From the village it is a detour of about one kilometre there and back, easy for everyone. Go at sunset, when the low light falls across the bay and the hills.
Punta del Carlino
On the other side of the beach, Punta del Carlino closes the bay. A local legend tells of a sea creature that whips up the waves against fishermen; watch the spray on the rocks during a winter storm and you will see where the story comes from.
The hamlets: Montaretto, San Giorgio and Scernio
Bonassola has seven hamlets scattered over the hills: Costella, Montaretto, Poggio, Reggimonti, San Giorgio, Scernio and Serra. They are worth half a day if you have a car or good legs for the trails.
Montaretto: panoramic, with the oratory of San Rocco and views along the coast towards Framura.
San Giorgio: home to the Ardoino tower, a watchtower begun in 1544, left in ruins for centuries and restored in 2018.
Scernio: its hills were mined for pyrite; the mines are documented from 1285 and worked until 1930.
Reggimonti: one of the oldest churches in the area, recorded as early as 1269.
Sea
Bonassola beach
The beach fills almost the whole bay, between Punta del Carlino and the Madonnina headland. It is wide and long, made of dark sand mixed with gravel, and less than ten minutes’ walk from the station. Most of it is taken by beach clubs (stabilimenti) renting loungers and umbrellas, with a few free sections: in July and August arrive early if you want a free spot. The seabed drops fairly quickly, so keep small children close to the shore.
The bay is exposed to sea storms: in autumn and winter the waves can reach the promenade and the bike path may close. On calm days the water is clear and the rocks at either end are good for snorkelling. Rules for dogs change every year; some beach clubs accept them, so ask first.
If the beach is full, you have three options a few minutes away: the small rocky coves along the bike path towards Levanto, Vallesanta beach at the start of Levanto, or the coves of Framura, by bike or train. The red cliffs on the coast towards Framura are best seen from the water.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Bonassola
Bonassola is small and so is its choice of accommodation: a few hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses and many holiday apartments. Pick it if you want a quiet beach base with the Cinque Terre a short train ride away, but without their crowds.
Near the beach and the centre: for a beach holiday where everything, station included, is on foot. The most in-demand area in summer.
In the hills and hamlets: houses and farm stays with views, quieter and often roomier, but you need a car and the roads are narrow.
In Levanto: if you want more choice and more evening life, Levanto is minutes away by bike path or train.
From June to September, book early: with few beds, summer weekends fill up weeks ahead.
Take the A12 Genoa–Livorno motorway. The handiest exit is Carrodano–Levanto, followed by about 19 km of hill road. The alternative is the Deiva Marina exit, about 20 km on a more winding road. Either way, allow at least half an hour of bends.
By train
Bonassola station is on the Genoa–La Spezia line and served by regional trains. It is about 500 metres from the sea, under ten minutes on foot. Levanto is a few minutes away, La Spezia under an hour. To get off in the five Cinque Terre villages between 14 March and 1 November 2026 you need a Cinque Terre fare ticket (5 to 10 euros depending on the day); if you board at a station outside the National Park, such as Bonassola, a supplement applies. Check fares and the calendar on Trenitalia Cinque Terre.
By boat
The nearest boat pier is in Levanto: in season, ferries run from there to the Cinque Terre villages and Portovenere.
By plane
The nearest airports are Genoa, about 87 km away, and Pisa, about 115 km. From Genoa a regional train goes straight to Bonassola; from Pisa, change at La Spezia.
Parking
Parking on the seafront is paid and limited. In summer an extra car park opens at the sports ground on Via Colombo. On July and August weekends spaces go early, so come by train if you can. If you are staying in Bonassola, ask your host where to leave the car.
A12, Carrodano-Levanto exit (about 19 km) or Deiva Marina (about 20 km, more winding)
By train
Bonassola station (Genoa–La Spezia line), under 10 minutes' walk from the sea
By plane
Genoa (about 87 km) or Pisa (about 115 km), then train
The guide
Things to do in Bonassola
The Maremonti bike path
Until 1970 the Genoa–La Spezia railway ran right along the sea. When the line was doubled and moved inland, the old track bed was left empty. Since 2010 (Levanto section) and 2011 (Framura section) it has been a flat, paved path for walkers and cyclists, the Ciclopedonale Maremonti. It is about 5.5 km in all, half before and half after Bonassola, mostly in tunnels. The Levanto stretch is the scenic one, with openings and open-air sections above the cliffs; the Framura stretch is almost all underground.
You can walk, cycle or run it, and it suits children. When an orange or red weather alert is in force, or during sea storms, the municipality closes it in both directions; in 2026 the Framura section was also closed several times for works. Before you set off, check the notices (ordinanze) on the Comune di Bonassola website. Access points, timings, bike hire and the train back are all in our guide to the Levanto–Bonassola–Framura bike path.
Festivals
Three dates stand out. In June, for Corpus Domini, the streets of the centre are covered with flower carpets. In early October the feast of the Madonna del Rosario remembers the battle of Lepanto with a procession, stalls and fireworks. On 25 November the village celebrates Santa Caterina, its patron saint. In summer, some concerts of Levanto’s Amfiteatrof festival are also held in Bonassola.
Food
The cooking is that of the eastern Riviera: focaccia and farinata (chickpea flatbread), anchovies, stuffed mussels, fresh pasta with pesto or seafood sauces, salt-cod fritters. To drink, whites from the Colline di Levanto and Cinque Terre, grown on the same terraced hills you see from the beach.
Walks and hikes
Levanto to Bonassola on foot
If the bike path feels too easy, take the hill trail. It starts from Levanto’s seafront, climbs to the ridge with views over the bay and drops down to Bonassola via Scernio, first on a dirt track and then on tarmac. Allow about three hours. The easiest way back is the flat bike path. On the trails above the village is also the Salto della Lepre, a viewpoint that takes in the coast from Punta Mesco to the Portofino headland.
Towards Framura and Montaretto
Other trails climb from Bonassola to Montaretto and on to the hamlets of Framura, through woods, olive groves and dry-stone terraces. These are proper hiking paths with steep climbs: wear hiking shoes and carry water. Times and waymarks vary with the route, so pick up a map at the tourist office before you go.
Towards the Cinque Terre
The most famous trail in the area starts in Levanto: it climbs to Punta Mesco and descends to Monterosso in about three hours. From Bonassola, reach the start in a few minutes by train or on foot along the bike path. Check trail status on the Cinque Terre National Park website: in September 2026 the section between Monterosso, Vernazza and Corniglia was closed.
Day trips from Bonassola
Levanto: 3 km away, on foot or by bike along the old railway. A medieval centre, a long beach with winter surf and the end of the line for Cinque Terre trains.
Framura: at the other end of the bike path, a scattered village of hamlets running down to a tiny harbour and small coves.
Monterosso al Mare: the first of the Cinque Terre villages, with the largest beaches, minutes away by train.
Vernazza: the most photographed harbour in the Cinque Terre, on the same railway line.
Deiva Marina: the next beach towards Genoa, one stop after Framura.
Il golfo di Bonassola visto dall'altoLa baia e la spiaggia di Bonassola dall'altoLa spiaggia di Bonassola vista dall'altoLa baia di Bonassola vista dalla costaPiazza Brigata Cento Croci con le palme a BonassolaUna via del centro di BonassolaLe case di Bonassola sotto la collina
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Bonassola
Is Bonassola part of the Cinque Terre?
No. The Cinque Terre are Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Bonassola is west of Levanto, outside the National Park, but on the same railway line.
Is Bonassola beach sandy?
It is dark sand mixed with gravel. It is wide, mostly occupied by beach clubs, with a few free sections. The seabed drops fairly quickly.
How long is the Levanto–Bonassola–Framura bike path?
About 5.5 km on the flat, half between Levanto and Bonassola and half between Bonassola and Framura, mostly in tunnels.
Is the bike path always open?
No. The municipality closes it during orange or red weather alerts, sea storms and works. Check the notices before you go.
How do I get to the Madonnina della Punta?
On foot from the village, a detour of about one kilometre there and back. It is easy and takes half an hour at a gentle pace.
How long does it take from Bonassola to Levanto?
A few minutes by train, around half an hour on foot along the bike path, about ten minutes by bike.
Is Bonassola a good base for the Cinque Terre?
Yes, if you prefer peace and quiet. Monterosso is a few minutes away by train. Remember that from Bonassola the Cinque Terre fare includes a supplement.
Where can I park in Bonassola?
On the seafront, paid, and in summer also at the sports ground on Via Colombo. In high season spaces are scarce: the train is the better option.
When is the best time to visit Bonassola?
June and September for the beach without too many people; May and October for the bike path and trails. Winter is very quiet, and sea storms can close the path.
