The inland territory is undoubtedly an enchanting place to immerse yourself in nature but what strikes the visitor when he enters the Giara Valley is the explosion of greenery. The wood is immense, flourishing, emerald ... wonderful.
The walk you are about to do is immersed in this scenario: you will follow the Giara stream which, between lakes, waterfalls and rapids, originates in the “Ponte dei Passi” area from the meeting of three streams that descend from “Monte Monega” and then flow into the “Arroscia” torrent.
The river is crossed by several bridges, very numerous and concentrated in such a restricted area so as to have been defined as "cornerstones of rural engineering of western Liguria". Made mostly between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, they had the intent to facilitate access to the chestnut groves that were on the right bank. Over the years, some have been rebuilt after being destroyed by the floods of the Giara, of others, however, only a few traces remain.
We begin the journey from the old Romanesque bridge of Lavina, along the path of the “Via del Sale” (Salt Path), built in an impeccable way so as to withstand the flood of November 2016. We will then go up the “Cian de Brun” bridge, built by the Community of Cenova to give access to the its chestnut groves located beyond the Giara, the Ponte “râ Cianca”, meeting place for fishermen, the Ponte “rû Murin”, so called because it crossed the Giara at the mill of the Marquis: this is perhaps the most used by the rezzaschi, who voluntarily contributed to its restoration in 1827, the “Causinâ” bridge at the lime kiln.
We have reached the most famous bridge ... for those of Rezzo “U ponte cu loccia”, for visitors the Napoleonic Bridge. Legend has it that the bridge was built by Napoleonic troops who crossed the territory of Rezzo, burying the treasures stolen from the raided countries in the large beech forest.
On the road we will meet again the Ponte “de Runcumâ”, following the Ponte “râ Crava” and finally the Ponte “dei Passi”, which gave access to the central part of the beech forest.