5 Terre Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso are the villages of Cinque Terre. These five villages of the eastern side of Liguria give travellers the opportunity to enjoy a unique landscape, where man and nature live in harmony.
The Cinque Terre became National Park and Unesco World Heritage in 1997 and are made up of five villages, separated by narrow rocky coves and surrounded by thousands of miles of dry stone terraced vineyards.
The name Cinque Terre has been first given in the 15 th Century, but the villages' history dates back in time. Recent archaeological findings witness that men lived here thousands of years ago and some of the villages were founded in Roman times. The villages of Cinque Terre are made up of high, narrow tower-houses, which had the function of small fortresses, protecting the village from the sudden dangers coming from the sea.
Cinque Terre offer much more than a crystal clear sea: the uncountable paths, which connect the villages, give the opportunity to have wonderful excursions in the nature. .
Coming from La Spezia, Riomaggiore is the first village. Founded on the VIII century, it develops vertically along the Rio Maior stream, which gives the name to the village. It is crossed by steep stairs, running among the typically pink and yellow coloured ligurian houses.
The castle, on the top of the village, was built on the 13th century and now hosts cultural events. The Church of San Giovanni Battista is on the Cerricò hill and can be easily reached walking up the village's main street.
The parish Church was built on 1340 by the Luni bishop and was later renovated in gothic style.
The typical marina gives access to the village's beach and is certainly worth to be visited.
The famous Via dell'Amore (Lovers' lane), a path carved into the rock, goes from Riomaggiore to Manarola and offers unique views of the steep coastline. A path starts from the top of the village and leads to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montenero (1h walk)
The village on the other side of the Lovers' lane is Manarola, a small village enclosed by two craggy rocky promontories.
Manarola has Roman origins (Manarola, from latin Manium arula, temple to Mane divinities) and is characterised by the typical brightly coloured houses. Manarola is developed along the shores of a stream, the Groppo stream. The stream has been covered and it is now the meeting point of the many narrow streets and the centre of the village's life.
The gothic Church of San Lorenzo, founded in 1338, is on the top of the village, next to the Disciplinati oratory.
The marina has a natural dock, which is still used as a recover for small boats. The road to Palaedo, a short path carved into the rock, starts at the marina and leads to a second dock and then continues to Corniglia. Manarola, thanks to its clear waters and steep rocks, is the perfect place for a snorkelling tour. Manarola has two hamlets: Groppo and Volastra. The sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Salute is in Volastra.
Corniglia is the 3rd village of Cinque Terre. It is not directly by the sea, since it lays on a 100 m high promontory.
The origins of Corniglia date back to Roman times (its name comes from Gens Cornelia, the Roman family it belonged to). The village is developed along the main road, which leads to a wonderful terrace with view over the other four villages.
The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora delle Grazie in San Bernardino can be reached with 1 hour walk. At the sea level, Corniglia on one side has a long rocky beach and, on the other, a small dock. The beach of Guvano can be reached with 1/2 hour walk. It is a sandy beach, visited by naturalists from all over the world.
Vernazza has a natural dock with the shape of an amphyteatre and was founded around 1000 (the name originates from Gens Vulnetia, the Roman family it belonged to). Vernazza became an important centre during the Maritime Republic of Genoa, thanks to the ability of its shipbuilders. The Doria tower, the defence tower built by the Genoese, overlooks the village from a rocky hill. The church of Santa Maria d'Antiochia, built on 1318, is on the village's main square and is characterised by its octagonal belltower.
Loggias, colonnades, portals and other valuable architectonic elements, witness that the economic and social development of Vernazza has been higher than that of the other four villages of Cinque Terre.
Monterosso is the fifth village of Cinque Terre. The village is divided into two parts: new town (Fegina) and old town. In the new part you can visit the house of Eugenio Montale (a famous italian writer) and the imposing statue of the Giant, in the village's beach. The medieval tower Aurora is situated on the top of the Cappuccini hill and separates the old town from the new town (train station).
The San Francesco church enshrines several important works such as the Crucifixion, attributed to Van Dyck. The baroque oratory of the Confraternita dei neri is next to the church, whether the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Soviore, the oldest Marian sanctuary of the region, stands out on the village's hills.
La Spezia is in the centre of the Poets' Gulf, enclosed between Portovenere and its isles on the west, and the Lerici castle on the east. The gulf has several bays and coves, and is surrounded by high hills reaching 600 m.
The Poets' Gulf has been described by important poets such as Byron, Shelley and Montale, and its beaches and small roads are particularly appreciated during the warm summer days.
The town of La Spezia is at the centre of the Gulf. Its origins trace back to Roman times. Though, its main development occured during the Napoleon empire and after the construction of the naval dockyard during the Cavour government (around 1860). The city centre has been widely renovated, showing its interesting medieval and 18th century's streets
Portovenere lays on the western end of the Poets' Gulf, on a promontory surrounded by high cliff and three small isles: Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. The village is dominated by the imposing Castle from the 17 th century, used as a jail for political detainees during the rule of Napoleon, which (especially at the sunset) offers a unique view over the coast of Cinque Terre.
The name of Portovenere stems from the Roman temple to Venere Ericina, built on the top of the village's promontory and then replaced by the gothic church of San Pietro (13th century).
We suggest visitors to access the village from the stone gate (built during the Genoa Republic), and then walk up the main road to the Church of San Lorenzo (12 th century), situated on the top of the village. The church enshrines many paintings from the 15th century and the Belltower, used to defend the village from the possible threats coming from the sea. It is characterised by the colourful ligurian houses and the medieval roads, crossing the village. The path number 1, linking Portovenere with the Cinque Terre, starts from the old village walls.
The three isles of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto face the village and are integral part of the "Regional natural park of Porto Venere".
The Palmaria isle is divided from Portovenere by a thin sea branch called "Le Bocche" (the mouths) and can be reached with ferries. The Tino isle is a military area and can only be reached on the day of San Venerio (13 th of September).
Lerici is situated on the east side of the Gulf and 18 th century poets called it The Pearl of the Gulf . In Roman times, it has been used as an important port by the wayfarers and pilgrim which were going to Sarzana and then to Rome or to the North. Lerici has a medieval structure and an old town made up of narrow streets going up to the castle, which now hosts the Paleontology Musem. The promenade leads to the beach of Venere Azzurra (Blue venus) and to the village of San Terenzo and its Castle and Villa Magni, the house of Percy Bysse Shelley and Mary Shelley.
We suggest travellers to visit the small village of Montemarcello, offering a breathtaking panorama of the Magra Valley, the Apuan alps, Northern Tuscany and the Poets' Gulf.
The small maritime village of Tellaro, lays a few kilometres from Lerici and is developed around is church by the sea.
Sarzana is situated between the Apuan Alps and the sea, in the heart of Lunigiana. In the 13 th century it became a main religious centre, replacing the roman town of Luni.
It has always been an agricultural, commercial and strategic centre. In the middle age, when the Bshop and the tribunal were moved to Sarzana, it became an important religious and legal centre. Thanks to its strategic position, Sarzana is a crossroads between Liguria, Tuscany and Emilia Romagna.
There are two castles in the town: the Firmafede fortress, built by the Pisans; and the Sarzanello fortress, an old bishop residence. The 16th century town is well kept and is still surrounded by the city walls and guarded by four towers. The old town is developed along the old Via Francigena.
Today, Sarzana is an important cultural centre. At summer it hosts several art and music festivals (such as the Festival della Mente in August, the Historical Commemoration of Napoleon battles in Semptember).
Apart from being a cultural site, Sarzana has a bathing resort as well, Marinella. It is a 3 km long sandy coast, where free and private beaches alternate.
The name of Lunigiana, the area were Sarzana is situated, stems from the old Roman colony of Luni. Though, the finding of old stone statues witnesses that this area has been populated since the Neolithic.
The area has long been a cultural and commercial crossroads and still has many medieval castles and villages. There are many historical events which recreate the life of middle age.
The Vara valley is a few kilometers from Cinque Terre, in the inland part of Liguria. It is the largest valley of the La Spezia province and of Liguria. It is crossed by the Vara river, which originates on the Zatta mountain and flows into the Magra river after 58 kilometers.
The Vara valley is similar to the high Magra valley and has several little medieval villages, surrounded by untouched woods, castles, churches, sanctuaries and mills. Many villages have the typical round medieval structure, where all streets and house develop around the centre of the village.
