Urban trekking in Savona: discover the city on foot, one step at a time.

Savona isn't just a port of call for the open sea or a stopover on a cruise ship: it's also a city that lets itself be explored through walking, through narrow streets, hidden churches, and paths that climb to the hills behind it. This is precisely the soul of urban trekking , the form of slow tourism that has attracted an increasing number of visitors and residents in recent years.

"A Spassu p'a çitè": the Savonese urban trekking program

The flagship project for those who want to explore Savona on foot is called "A Spassu p'a çitè" ("A Stroll Through the City" in the local dialect), an initiative promoted by the Municipality of Savona with the support of local associations and organizations. In 2026, the program reached its fourth edition , building on the success of the previous three, with an even richer calendar: 29 routes between spring and autumn, with at least one event per week in both seasons, thanks to the participation of numerous associations with diverse expertise and experience.

The program moves along two lines:

• Itineraries in the city centre , to discover the cultural, artistic, architectural and historical aspects of the city;
• Extra-urban routes , which allow you to rediscover paths, ancient roads, tunnels and connections in the hills behind Savona.

Each walk is accompanied by stories and explanations from expert and passionate guides, often representing historical local associations (from the Savonese Society of National History to the Italian Alpine Club, from the Savonese Speleological Group (DLF) to the Liguria Tourist Guides Association). All tours are free , and reservations are made directly through each individual trek on the Visit Savona website, which includes the meeting point, time, and link to the registration form.

Itineraries that tell the story of Savona from every angle

Thematic variety is probably the strong point of "A Spassu p'a çitè." Among the routes for the 2026 edition are, for example:

• Savona underground , from the halls of the Bastion of S. Caterina del Priamàr to the galleries of Monticello, guided by the Savonese Speleological Group DLF;
• Waiting for the dawn , the CAI walk with meeting at 5.45 at the Torre del Brandale;
• The medieval bridges of Savona over the Letimbro stream , from the ancient "Ponte delle Pile" to the Ponte di San Martino di Lavagnola;
• The streets of the musicians , among the places linked to the city's musical tradition;
• Pope Pius VII from the Napoleonic chains to his ties with Savona , to retrace a little-known chapter in the city's history;
• The hamlets of the Sanctuary and the monasteries and convents of the Savona hills , for those who want to get away from the center without going too far from the city.

Each itinerary is a different way of looking at the same city, and following more than one means building, step by step, a richer and more personal map of Savona.

Why choose urban trekking

Urban trekking combines the pleasure of discovery with a slower, more mindful pace of exploring. Walking the streets and alleys of a historic center allows you to notice details that escape those who travel by car or follow the most popular routes: a sculpted portal, an Art Nouveau façade, a glimpse of the sea between two buildings.

It's also a sustainable way to travel: it distributes tourist flows beyond the most popular areas, highlights lesser-known neighborhoods and routes, and has minimal impact on the local area. Added to this is a more personal benefit: walking is good for you, and it's an activity accessible to everyone, adaptable to different fitness levels thanks to the variety of lengths and difficulty of the routes.

What you discover walking around Savona

Depending on the chosen route, urban treks take in places like the Priamàr Fortress , the Brandale Tower , the historic center with its alleyways and squares, the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Misericordia and its hamlets, as well as woods and trails in the Savona hills, such as those in the state-owned forest of Cadibona. Some itineraries also have a more specialized focus: from the Baroque paintings and sculptures preserved in the city churches, to the eighteenth-century textiles housed in the Sanctuary, to the relics of the Art Nouveau Villetta neighborhood.

How to participate

To participate in upcoming "A Spassup p'a çitè" events, simply visit the EVENTS page: the complete calendar with dates, meeting points, and times is published there, and each page provides access to the online registration form. Events are free, but some may have limited places or a specific difficulty level (indicated on the individual trek page). It's always worth checking the details before setting off, along with comfortable shoes, water, and a healthy dose of curiosity.