Forte Diamante – Turbolince

Forte Diamante (Genua)

The fortifications north of the city of Genoa up to Forte Diamante not only offer breathtaking views, but also countless trail options, with the descent via the trails to San Sebastiano being one of the best.

Description

The start is outside the hustle and bustle of Genoa, at the Genova Piazza Manin valley station. Genoa, with just under 600,000 inhabitants, is not exactly known for its ideal transport system - so it's all the more pleasant that the starting point is north of the city center. From there, the route leads uphill on asphalt past Castello Mackenzie along historic roads. After a short climb, you reach the Forte Castellaccio, one of the striking defensive structures above the town, and shortly afterwards the imposing Forte Sperone. Some of the fortifications are huge and surprisingly well preserved.

From Forte Sperone, the route continues on gravel, past Forte Puin, along the ridge with impressive views down to Forte Diamante. The final ascent runs along a classic, paved mule track up to the fortress itself - this is also the highest point of the tour. From there, numerous trails branch off in various directions, with views of countless mountain ridges and picturesque villages.

The descent begins directly from the Forte with trails of difficulty S1, occasionally S2. The next section starts at the next saddle, which is S2-S3. Very rough in places and not recommended in wet conditions, it leads down to Passo Giandino. A short transfer follows from Passo Giandino before the ridge trail rides downhill with a constant difficulty of S2. The Turbolince Line finally takes you down into the valley above San Sebastiano. You then reach the Aquedotto Storico, use this section as a transfer and ride on towards the huge cemetery - before finally arriving back at the starting point of the tour.

Note: The ascent can be shortened considerably by taking the funicular from the old town up to Righi.

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