Le Cinque Terre

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The Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre, the five lands and their footpaths, are famous all around the world.

This landscape was included by UNESCO among the “World’s Heritage” due to their beauty, and the particularities which characterize this territory.

The five lands, are a group of five picturesque villages along the coast surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and woods.

Places enchanted and pleasing, so united in customs, traditions and cusine.

The only true way to enjoy the Cinque Terre at its best are train and by foot or by boat.

The railway line La Spezia - Genoa stop in all the villages of the coast and the boats regularly makes shuttle between La Spezia and the 5 Terre,

“Affittacamere Casa Danè” (www.casadane.it) and “Affittacamere Tre Frè” (www.trefre.it) are B&B close to the Railway Station of La Spezia (100 metres) wich connnect (in 7 minutes) Riomaggiore, the first village of the Cinque Terre .

The Five Villages:

Riomaggiore

Manarola

Corniglia

Vernazza

Monterosso

Five small villages one after the other, Five miles of full of rocks coast.

Houses and paths suspended between the earth and the sky, make it a natural beauty unique also because kept intact and faithful to the nautical tradition

The evocative type of cliff coast to the sea, with falesie that often catches up the verticality, alternated to charming bays, gorges and small beach between the rock, with high depth and rich of fish varieties, make this country one authentic "work of art" of the nature.

The exigencies of life imposed on the inhabitants of the 5 Terre a strong agricultural bent, so that in the old days they were known for the excellence of their wines .

Nowadays these idyllic retreats with their picturesque beauty, far removed from the noise of the world, are gradually being discovered.

The 5 Terre: Recognized finally as a National Park in 1999 and UNESCO protected territory since 1997 as a system of naturalistic environmental interest

The Cinque Terre - Accommodation in La Spezia

RIOMAGGIORE

Riomaggiore is an old village situated in a small and marvellous valley planted with vines.

The name of the village comes from “Rivus Major” the brook (“rio”) which flows through a deep winding gully down to a small beach.

Riomaggiore is the most eastern of the 5 Terre; from the sea, it penetrates into the valley having the same name, with its houses ranged and dominated by the remains of an ancient Castle of the 14^th century.

The terraces covered with flowers, the narrow slopes and the stony flight of the steps are appreciated by the visitors who like the simplest and most natural views.

The small, sunny beach, the clear blue sea make of Riomaggiore the ideal place where to spend relaxing holidays.

The sea trip from La Spezia takes us past the “Red Rocks” and the solitary Feral island, to Riomaggiore immortalized in the paintings of Telemaco Signorini, which is the first of the first of the Cinque Terre to reveal its unspoilt charm.
Places enchanted and pleasing with fantastic tradition and cusine.

It is told that Riomaggiore was founded by Greek refugees escaping from Leone III Isaurico’s persecutions.

He was the Emperor of Byzantinum and it is possible that some Greeks arrived and stopped here.

The first documents, those which make history by true, belong to 1250 and confirm that Riomaggiore at that time was under the Genoese Republic.

To visit:

The Church of San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist): Interesting is the visit to the Church of St. John the Baptist built in the XIV century. You can admire its beautiful pulpit with the parapet formed by an altar-piece coming from the ancient Church of S. Martino and representing the Saint.

The Castle: You can visit the rests of an medieval Castle on the hill Cerricò. The Castle, which was recently restored, belongs to 1260. Here you can also find the old cemetery. From the Castle you can admire Monterosso.

Excursions:

“La Via dell’Amore” (“Way of love” or “Love’s path”) From Riomaggiore to Manarola: path number 2 (The Blue Path) – Trip time: 25 minutes

The promenade which links Riomaggiore to Manarola, the socalled “Via dell’Amore” (“Way of love” or “Love’s path”), is very evocative because it is sunken in the rocks falling sheer to the sea. This path is already known and indicated as “The Blue Path”.

Leaving the railway station of Riomaggiore, you will arrive at a small square. Turning right, you will see a tunnel which leads you towards the village's center, the port and the beach; turning left you find the stairs which go up to the famous ”Via dell'Amore”.

The “Via dell’Amore” that in 20 minutes of fantastic walk leads from Riomaggiore to Manarola. It was carved into the rock in 1926 – 1928 following the acrobatic path of the quarrymen who built the railway from La Spezia to Genova.

For a short section the “Via dell’Amore” acts as roof for the railway which runs inside the tunnel.

Its panoramic large windows face an interesting botanic garden.

At both of its ends, there are welcoming and information points of the national park and along its course the tourists can find restoration in the suggestive “Love’s bar” which is literally projected over the cliff.

In the Welcoming Centres one can buy the tickets which authorize the entrance to the whole Path n. 2, the use of the ecologycal little buses of the Park and the lifts.

At the end of the “Via dell'Amore”, going downstairs, you will arrive at the railway station of Manarola

To the Madonna of Montenero: Path number 3 (From Riomaggiore to the Telegrafo – Via Lemmen).
It is an historical mule track of Riomaggiore which connects the Village of Riomaggiore to its Marian Sanctuary of Montenero and, more above to the Telegraph pass. Path number 3 starts from the Village of Riomaggiore and goes up along the “Rio Majior”. A nice pavement between the dry walls of the vineyards on the left. You arrive at an old stone bridge and at a fork. Turn on the right going up a nice flight of steps. After an hours’ walk following a muke-track and climbing up a flight of steps, you can reach the Sanctuary of Montenero, built at the time of the immigration from Grece (8 th century), but reconstructed in the 15 th century.

Behind, you can see the area of Biassa, from where the whole extension of the Cinque Terre can be admired.

From the Sancuary of Montenero you can follow the path N. 3 as far as Telegrafo, where you can take on your right the path N. 1 (From Portovenere to Levanto)

MANAROLA

Manarola is a picturesque village with bright colours. The houses stand on a promontory stretching in the sea, and a small creek for the boats is enclosed within the rocks.

The village of Manarola, which is older than Riomaggiore, takes its name from “Manium arula” (a temple dedicated to the Mani, the souls of the departed). Its special colour was caught on canvas and handed down to us by the painters Llewelin Lloyd and Antonio Discovolo. But the original citadel was in the Roman “vicus” higher up in “Volastra”.

The village is situated in a narrow valley and the sides of the hills are planted with vines producing the wine called “Sciacchetrà”.

Travelling by the sea, a spur appears, which rises from the sea. On the left you can see a small seemingly dug in the rocks, acting as a harbour for small boats. On the spur, sheltered brown houses form a kind of an abstract ornamentation around a real jewel: the Gothic church of S. Maria.

Every year, on the 15^th August, an exhibition of paintings inspired to the area of the 5 Terre takes place at Manarola.

An extraordinary world-wide known lane link Manarola to Riomaggiore: it is called “La Via dell’Amore”, carved in the core of the rocks jutting out over the sea.

Olive-trees with robust stumps, spurges, cinerarias, wild pinks and brooms accompany lovers everywhere in a suggestive walk.

To visit:

The Parish Church of St. Lorenzo: built in 1338 in the gothic-ligure style, dedicated to the nativity of the Virgin Maria.

Cemetery: outside the village you can find the picturesque cemetery of Manarola.

Sanctuary of the Madonna della Salute: a walk to the Sanctuary is also worthwhile. From there you can enjoy the view of the Gulf below, called “the Cape of Venus”.

Madonna della Salute (Good health): in Volastra, at the end of a mule track, which is one of the most picturesque on the coast is the shrine of the Madonna della Salute, who has been worshipped there since the 10^th Century.

Excursions:

From Manarola to Corniglia: (Path n. 2)

From the railway station of Manarola, path n.2 runs in a tunnel as far as the village and it turns left going down to seashore.

The new and more panoramic section of the path follows Birolli promenade, under the equipped area of Bonfiglio Point (which can be crossed too) grazes the small call of Paledo and rises to the old track n. 1 in the lakes basin (35 meters).

The path was mostly carved into the rock. It is called “of the sea-trasparences” as an homage to the painter Giuseppe Arigliano, who was ispirated by the sea depths where the small path is reflected.

From the point where the new and the old n. 1 meet, the track grows milder, becoming a flat path which dominates for its whole length Corniglia’s long beach.

Then it approaches the railway station and rise to the village through a flight of steps.

It is a easy way, to cross the heap of stones which moves continually, over the beach was necessary to suspend a “Tibetan” bridge held by steel cables to avoid the possible fall of stones.

CORNIGLIA

The village of Corniglia is more difficult to access by the sea, than any of the other Villages of the 5 Terre, but is one of the richest in history.

Situated on a natural plateau, the village of Corniglia winds along a main road, with staircases and lanes coming out in the surrounding country cultivated with vineyard.

The steps terracing characterizing the whole area are evidence of the age-long labour of these people.

Corniglia is situated on a hillock planted with vines and olive-groves.

The roman invaders shared out “the ager lunensis” after the victory over the Ligurians in 1777 B.C. and a family named Corneli (or Cornelius) received as their share of the spoil, a large area of vineyards in this locality, and that is the origin of the present place name.

It was afterwards mentioned and celebrated by Boccaccio in his “Decamerone” and Carducci for its excellent wine: the “Vernaccia”.

It is reached from the landing stage by climbing a very steep flight of steps which accounts for Corniglia being the most unspoilt and undeveloped village of the Cinque Terre.

To visit:

The Parish Church of S. Peter (1330 – 1351): The village is overlooked by the massive structure of the church of S. Peter. The magnificent 14 th century Parish church is built in the gothic-Genovese style, with its robust tower and the double-weathered front with three stripes. The church is adorned with a wonderful rose-window of white marble sculpturated by Pietro and Matteo of Campiglio. This church is built on the remains of an older church which existed before A.D. 1000.

The oratorio of the Disciplinati di S. Caterina: on the square, in the village’s center you can find the oratorio of the disciplinati di S. Caterina.

At Corniglia there are also some remains of a tower built in the XVI century by the Republic of Genova.

Excursions:

From Corniglia to Vernazza: Path n. 2 (trip time: 1 hour and half)

At Corniglia (90 meters a.s.l.) Path n. 2 passes among the houses, near the close-knit historical centre. It passes in front of the Parish Church of St. Peter, crosses the carriage road, overcomes the small bridge over Rio della Groppa and then winds inside an olive grove up to discover Guvano beach.

Then it crosses the whole basin of Guvano, where a small pic-nic resort was set and then it climbs to reach Prevo nucleus (208 a.s.l.) just half way between Corniglia and Vernazza.

At Prevo there is a restoration point. When you have left the charming nucleus of Prevo, path n. 2 crosses thick olive groves, at first on a flat ground and then descending the flight of steps which drives to the craggy coast of Macereto where there are plenty of agaves and Indian figs .

Path n. 2 comes near the Restaurant/Bar The Tower grazes the tower itself and reaches Vernazza main street.

From Corniglia to Marverde: Path n. 7/a (trip time: 1 hour and 40 minutes)

The path starts from the first houses of Corniglia where there is Lardarina flight of steps (path n.2) coming from the railway station.

You cross the carriage road which comes from the station and take a lane eastwards St. Peter’s church. Near a little fountain, the path leaves the village and starts rising among vineyards and on leaving them the flight of steps becomes steep and crosses olive groves, mostly neglected, on the right of Groppa Ditch.

The track then moves towards Volastra crossing a pine wood which was damaged by fire. At 350 metres a.s.l. it joins Path n. 6/d coming from Porciana and Volastra.

It keeps on climbing the wood, passes near Pianca Houses (460 metres a.s.l.) and at 483 metres height it joins the provincial way of the Sanctuaries.

It follows it for a short section and then comes back into the thick ilex wood, coming out of it at the western saddle of Marverde Mount (411 metres) on Path n.1.

In a few minutes, going on Path n.1, you can reach the Cigoletta pass where n. 7 passes.

To the Sanctuary of our Lady of Thanksgiven and of St. Bernardine of Siena: the high Sanctuary, founded by the latter as a simple chapel is poised above fertile terrace of fruitful vineyards, and reminds the visitor of the journeyings in these parts of the Saints and of his preaching and of the numerous conversions which took place here.

VERNAZZA

The village of Vernazza was a community formed toward the year 1000 round the chapel. This community built a Sanctuary on the hils of Reggio, and by the 12 th century had extended its territory down to its harbour on the sea.

Vernazza is an old picturesque village proud of its fishing tradition. It faces a tiny bay which is dominated by cliffs and by two ancient towers.

It is the most charming village of the 5 Terre. Vernazza still has medieval features: the main square of the village is surrounded by many-coloured houses built on the rocks.

At sunset the “lampara”, that is the motor-trawlers which glow-worms roam the sea at night and loaded with fish, steer towards the small harbours at down, set sail from Vernazza and from the villages nearby.

The small beach of Vernazza is dominated by the beautiful church of Saint Margaret of Antioch built on 1318 in the gothic-ligure style, with the bell-tower in Nolan style with an octagonal dome.

At sea level there is a wide grotto, about 70 metres deep called “Grotta del diavolo”. When the sea is very rough, the waves reach the village through the opening at the bottom of the grotto.

To visit:

The church dedicated to Saint Margaret Of Antioch: the little square of Vernazza is dominated by a beautiful church in gothic-Ligurian style (built on 1318) it contains three naves with a bell-tower in Nolan style with an octagonal section.

The Doria Castle: the imposing Doria Castle is the gretest example of military architecture of that time. You can visit it all year around. It was built during the Oberthengi's dominance at the middle of the 11th century.

The Massif big tower Belforte: On the western side of the Doria Castle there is the massif big tower Belforte, with an embattled edge which is strongly plauted on the cliff of Ventegà

Excursions:

From Vernazza to Monterosso: Path n.2 (about 2 hours)

The path n.2 enters into the centre of the Village of Vernazza, crosses the main street and then comes up the built up area through an ancient alley which overlooks the parish church of St. Mary of Antiochia.

There are spectacular views at the beginning of the path when it leaves the small beach of Vernazza.

It goes very steep in the coast covered with vineyards and olive groves. It runs through Riolo valley and Mezzorano Coast.

Then the hikes goes between the sky and the sea.

You reach Corone Point, a rocky just under the Porto Rocca Hotel which delimitate Monterosso bay on the eastern side. Ati this point the path enters the ancient part of the village near the Tower Palace.

To the Sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Graces (Santuraio di Nostra Signora delle Grazie): Path n. 7 (From Vernazza to the Cigoletta)

Path n.7 detaches itself from n.2 Vernazza-Corniglia (ex Blue Path) short after the bar/restaurant “The Tower” sited on a panoramic pull-in. It runs along the ridge of a rock wall. It turn to the left toward the village of Vernazza beginning to ascend the valley.

It grazes the park of an isolated house and soon after it faces the sea again. The ascend toward Comeneco saddle of St. Bernardino is spectacular. The path runs entirely immersed in the Mediterranean bush in front of the sea. On going out from the bush the path comes up the rim of a landslide which reach path 2 in the basin of Macereto. On the left the coast is firmer and permits the vine-dresser to keep on the cultivation of the vine.

When you arrive at Comeneco Saddle and you have crossed the provincial way St. Bernardino-Corniglia, you reach St. Bernardino’s little village.

The path crosses the square of the Sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Graces (Santuraio di Nostra Signora delle Grazie).