The Cinque Terre - La Spezia

Discovering the Cinque Terre and its colorful villages

The Cinque Terre, the three small villages in the province of La Spezia, is the pride of Liguria.

Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Corniglia, and Monterosso, have managed to attract a large and heterogeneous public, which appreciates their particularity and the beauty of the landscape.

Each of the villages is characterized by the presence of "tower-houses", very tall and very narrow buildings, which are distinguished by the bright colors with which they are painted.

Thanks to their uniqueness and incredible historical and environmental richness, the Cinque Terre is part of the area declared a World Heritage Site.

Each village has its port, where exchanges and the arrival of tourists are managed. Beaches, caves, and small bays occupy the entire coastal territory, attracting onlookers arriving from all over the world.

Riomaggiore

The village of Riomaggiore is often associated with the image of a "gigantic nativity scene", with its small colorful houses built on top of each other.

The historic center of the village is marked by the presence of dozens and dozens of houses joined through narrow streets and intricate alleys.

All the houses have a double entrance: the first at the façade and the second at the back, opening onto the rear street.

In previous times, the second entrance was intended to facilitate the escape route in the event of a raid, to protect the inhabitants.

One of the most interesting attractions of Riomaggiore is the "Via dell’Amore", a path completely carved into the rock that leads directly to Manarola. Crossing it you find yourself in close contact with nature, so much so that you can hear the sound of the waves breaking along the coasts.

Manarola

The name of the town of Manarola is linked to an ancient mill (the Magna Rosa). Its remains can still be seen by visitors. Beaches and bays with crystal clear waters surround the small village, offering relaxation and fun to all lovers of the sea and summer.

Among the most interesting monuments to visit in Manarola, we must mention the White Bell Tower, an ancient watchtower, the beautiful Church of San Lorenzo in perfect Gothic style, and the Hospital of San Rocco - one of the oldest historic buildings in the area.

Vernazza

The medieval village of Vernazza is one of the hundred most beautiful villages in Italy, known for its colorful buildings.

The port is the most characteristic and busiest point of the entire village, surrounded by small houses and narrow stone and red brick streets.

While visiting Vernazza it is impossible not to take a few minutes to the Church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia, which occupies a central position and is easily reachable on foot from the port.

The same also applies to the Doria Castle and the Tower of the Convent of the Reformed Fathers, two buildings with a strong historical value that have been the distinctive points of the entire village for years.

Monterosso

We continue with the fourth village of the Cinque Terre or Monterosso. The close presence of the sea and the traditional maritime culture are the backgrounds of life in the village, closely linked to fishing and marine activities. The beach of Monterosso is by far the largest and best equipped of all the Cinque Terre, with sandy and rocky sections.

Among the monuments to visit, we must mention the Church of San Giovanni, the Aurora Tower, and the Castle overlooking the sea, which offers a unique view of the whole promontory and the waters that surround the villages.

Corniglia

Here we come to the last village on the list, the ancient village of Corniglia. Unlike the other villages of the Cinque Terre, Corniglia is difficult to access by sea. To reach it, it is best to go up the Lardarina staircase, a set of 33 ramps that together count 377 steps.

The name of the village derives directly from "Corneliu", the famous white wine produced in the area in previous times.

Inside, it is possible to visit the very particular Parish of St. Peter, in Gothic style, and the Oratory of Santa Caterina.

The streets are small and narrow, as often happens in the villages, accompanied by the soft colors of the buildings and the blue of the sea.