The Antico Sentiero del Beodode from Bordighera

Coming from France via the motorway, leave the motorway at the Bordighera exit. Park just after the motorway toll booth on the left.

(S/E) Head towards the nearby roundabout. Turn left onto Via Generale Vicenzo Rossi and follow signs for Seborga, heading north. Follow this road carefully and continue, ignoring two junctions, until you reach the bridge crossing the Autostrada dei Fiori.

(1) At number 80 on Via Generale Vicenzo Rossi, at the roundabout sign marked ‘Eccetto Autorizzati’, turn right onto the steeply descending concrete road known as Strada Morghe. Pass under the motorway and continue to the bridge crossing the small Torente Sasso. Cross the bridge and turn left, heading north, onto this historic path known as the Antico Sentiero del Beodo, which runs alongside the stream through bamboo. At the end of the path, cross the bridge and join the tarmac road known as Via Silvio Pellico.

(2) Walk left for about ten metres. On the right-hand side of the road, a cairn stands 1 metre high on a sloping concrete retaining wall. This marks the start of the stony path climbing through greenhouses and houses. Cross Via Generale Vicenzo Rossi twice. Continue along this village path to reach the rear of the church of Sasso di Brodighera. Pass to the left of the church, where there is a water tap and a picnic area.

White and red markings or markings with the two letters "SL" (Sentiero Liguria) all the way to Seborga

(3) Turn right onto Via Benedetto Cairoli, heading north-east. There is a wooden sign pointing towards Seborga. Continue straight ahead along this narrow street. Ignore the first junction. At the next junction, leave Via Benedetto Cairoli at a circular water basin. Continue straight ahead on the paved slanting street.
At the bend, cross Via G. Matteotti – watch out for traffic – and continue straight ahead along the path until you reach the junction with Via Bellavista.

(4) Continue straight ahead on the road called Via Bellavista, heading north, until the junction with Via Giacomo Matteotti.

(5) Turn left onto Via Giacomo Matteotti and follow it to the junction with Strada Riva and Via Giacomo Matteotti. There is a wooden signpost here pointing towards Vallebona.

(6) Continue straight ahead, passing the Chapel of the Madonna della Neve on your left. At the next junction, turn left onto Via Madonna della Neve and continue along this gently ascending tarmac road with little traffic. Turn right onto a short path marked in red and white to rejoin Via Giacomo Matteotti. Follow it for about a hundred metres, taking great care with the traffic. Turn right onto the steep Via Rocca Scura.
Continue straight on along Via Rocca Scura until you reach the bend in the road at Corso Bernardo Leone. At this junction, watch out for traffic and turn right until you reach the junction with Via Antico Pricipato.

(7) Turn right onto this street and follow it. Cross Corso Bernardo Leone, continue straight ahead and rejoin the corso further on. Take the corso to the right for a few metres, taking care with the traffic, to reach the junction with Via Giacometto Matteotti at the entrance to the village of Seborga.

(8) Leave the avenue here and continue straight ahead along this uphill street towards the centre of Seborga. Ignore the^first street on the left, but do take a moment to admire the beautiful mural of a knight there. Continue to the next junction with Via delle Zecca. Turn right onto Via Zecca, then immediately left onto the steps leading to the Antica Porta del Sole. Walk up the main street, heading north, to Piazza Martiri Patrioti. Take a moment to look around.

(9) Return via the same route to the previous junction.

(8) Leave Seborga, following the route in reverse, to reach the crossroads at Madonna della Neve. Watch out for traffic along the way.

(6) Turn right onto Strada Riva, following the wooden sign for Vallebona. Follow the red and white markings. Continue along this road, which becomes a descending path before turning back into a track in the middle of a mimosa plantation well known for its flowers. You will reach a junction at a hairpin bend.

(10) Turn right and follow the road through the plantations. In the valley, immediately after the bridge over the Torrente Borghetto, turn left onto the tarmac road and head up to Vallebona. Along the way, on the left, note the village’s old wash house. Reach the entrance to the village.

(11) Turn right and walk for about 50 metres, then take the steps on the left to reach the village centre. Head westwards towards the church of San Lorenzo. Continue towards the fortified entrance to the village on Viale Europa, then head to a car park in the south-west of the village.

(12) Turn left at the wooden signpost towards Sasso. The tarmac road becomes a path that descends into the valley. Cross the Torrente Borghetto via a magnificent Roman bridge. Then begin a winding ascent. Continue along the path. Halfway up the slope, you’ll come to a V-shaped junction of grassy paths. Turn right. At the junction with the ascending track, turn right and follow it. You’ll return to a tarmac surface in the built-up area. Head up Via Ciotti towards the village of Sassot. At the junction with Via Generale Rossi, turn right and follow the road for about twenty metres. Just before the bend to the left, a reinforcement in the retaining wall on the left reveals a narrow staircase leading upwards. Turn left onto this staircase. Continue along this uphill shortcut. Cross Via Generale Rossi again and continue straight ahead to reach the junction with Via Bellavista, which you passed on the way out.

(4) Turn right and follow the route from the outward journey to reach the junction by the church of Sasso.,

(3) Continue straight on up the street; this is Via Chiabrera. In the alley, first turn left then right between the intertwined houses to see the old stones of Sasso. Continue towards the western part of the village. Go down a few steps and head towards the bend. Watch out for traffic. Cross Via Generale Vincenzo Rossi and continue straight on along Via Penne Nere, which rejoins Via Generale Vincenzo Rossi.
At this point, turn right and carefully follow this road to the motorway car park (S/E).

A mix of tarmac roads and footpaths.
Water points near the churches.
Toilets in Sasso.

Lose yourself in the three villages you pass through.
The ancient Beodo path from Bordighera.
Interesting fact: the Beodo was the channel of the ancient aqueduct built in the^15th century by the first inhabitants of Bordighera to bring water to fountains, wash houses, oil mills and vegetable gardens.

Between (8) and (9), you enter the old town of Seborga, a sombre place with ancient walls, a principality governed by a constitution, ruled by a prince and which claims its independence. Turn right and then right again through these narrow streets to reach Piazza San Martino, the unmissable historic heart of the town. A truly beautiful and harmonious ensemble.

Between (11) and (12), in the village of Vallebona, the houses are pressed close together. The cobbled alleyways are dark and winding. If only these walls could speak...
Take the time to look around; surprises await you in every alleyway, including a permanent exhibition of delivery tricycles scattered throughout the historic centre.