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Parking is available next to the municipal stadium about one kilometre east of the village of Piana.
(S/E) Cross the sports field diagonally. Cross the bridge and continue along the path that climbs to the right into the forest, following the stream.
(1) At the signpost, leave the path that crosses the stream on your right and start the first hairpin bends. The forest becomes sparser as the first pink rock outcrops appear on the left.
The path continues to climb in hairpin bends through the rocky blocks, alternating between covered passages and open areas, until it reaches Bocca di Piazza. Just before reaching it, continue to the left and leave the path that leads to the summit of Capu d'Ortu on the right
(2). At the pass, head towards Roches Bleues. To do this, go around the rocky ridge on the right and climb up its eastern side. The path is not very well marked, but a few blue markings can help you follow it. You will come out onto a plateau where a helicopter landing pad has been built. Continue westwards towards the strip of pine trees that marks the ridge. Here you can leave the path to reach the edge of the cliff: at 950m, almost directly above the Gulf of Porto, it makes for a stunning viewpoint.
(3) Return to the trail and begin the descent. This involves alternating between winding, steep sections and straighter sections with a gentler slope. Covered with pine trees and low scrub, the trail continues until it reaches a plateau planted with old chestnut trees.
(4) In the heart of the Palani chestnut grove, the paths converge, some climbing up to Capu d'Ortu and others leading to the old village of Dispensa. Take the path that descends to the left.
(5) Shortly afterwards, it splits into two routes. The one on the left leads directly back to the sports field where you started. It is relatively easy but completely bypasses the calanques, which are only a stone's throw away.
Follow the one on the right, which starts off gently downhill, then, after a fairly easy stretch through the forest, plunges literally into a rocky corridor. The redness of the rock becomes more pronounced and the few gaps in the vegetation reveal the first of the distinctive rock formations of the calanques.
(6) After a very technical descent –we are glad we didn't take the path in the other direction –
we come out onto the Calanches road, at the Chalet de Roches Bleues. It's a fantastic place for a restorative break, provided you have enough money in your wallet!
Head back up the road on the left for about 500 metres, towards Piana. This takes you through the most spectacular part of the calanques before turning off at the Vierge des Calanches.
(7) When you reach the small oratory nestled in the hollow of the rock, take the path on the left-hand side of the road. After a series of hairpin bends in a rocky corridor, it reaches a small pass that leads to the other side of the Calanques, facing the village of Piana. The road just below winds endlessly along the cliffside. The path traces its way above and parallel to it, then veers off to the left, skirting the hill.
(8) After rejoining the path that comes from the Palani chestnut grove, the circuit descends to the right into the valley via a beautiful tree-lined path. Just after rejoining the path you took on the way up, cross the bridge over the stream and return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Difficult 
Easy 
