Cinque Terre
Almost at the extreme east of our Riviera, are the Cinque Terre, five villages perched on cliffs overlooking the sea, surrounded by olive groves and green hills. A unique landscape in the world that UNESCO has declared a World Heritage Site.
Monterosso, with its ancient historical part and sandy beaches, is a cultural and seaside destination.
Vernazza, with its towers, has steep and very narrow paths that descend to the little Marina flowing into an enchanting bay.
Manarola, a medieval village perched on a rocky spur, and Riomaggiore are connected by the splendid “Via dell'Amore”, a wonderful walk carved into the rocky walls a stone's throw from the waves. The path “La Via dei Santuari” winds halfway up the hill. Among these, just below the ridge of Monte Soviore, is the sanctuary dedicated to the cult of Mary: “The Madonna di Soviore”.
Riomaggiore is the first of the villages belonging to the “Cinque Terre”, coming from La Spezia, it was born in the Rio Maggiore Valley and is accessed by a wide carriage road (the first stretch of the La Spezia-Sestri coastal road), worthy of interest is the Church of San Giovanni Battista and the Castle.
Corniglia is the least "coastal" settlement of the five villages: 100 meters above sea level. To visit the Church of San Pietro, the Castle and the ruins of the Genoese fortifications.
The Vernazza settlement develops in the shelter of a high rock. Its port was used as a shipyard for the ships of the Genoese republic. The Sanctuary of Nostra Signore di Reggio is very beautiful. Monterosso stands at the bottom of a large inlet and, unlike the other villages, it has a wide beach. To visit the Church of San Cristoforo and the Capuchin Convent which houses a painting representing The Crucifixion attributed to Van Dyck. The Cinque Terre are easily accessible both by land and sea. From the small port of Lerici the ferries that connect Lerici to Portovenere depart and then continue to the Cinque Terre. Further information about connections and daily trips will be provided on request by our friendly reception staff.