Historically, the nature reserve extends from Punta Mesco west of Monterosso al Mare to Punta del Persico south of Campiglia. Its settlement history dates back about a thousand years. Over the centuries, the villages with their colourful house facades clinging to the unruly rock formations came into being. The Cinque Terre inhabitants painstakingly reclaimed the steep banks and built retaining walls and rows of terraces.
Some of the so-called “striscie” (strips) stretch up to the hilltops. Today, the popular Cinque Terre wine is grown here. The wines are mainly DOC wines made from the Bosco, Vermentino and Albarola grape varieties. The “Bianco secco delle Cinque Terre” and the “Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà” are particularly popular.
A long-established farming and fishing culture existed here for centuries. It was not until the improved road connections in the 1970s and 1980s that tourists discovered the area. Today, tourists from all over the world are part of the inhabitants’ everyday lives.

The towns of Monterosso, Vernazza & Corniglia

Monterosso is the main town of the Cinque Terre and the starting point of the classic coastal hiking trail through the unique cultural landscape. The trail connects all five coastal villages. The most famous section is the last stretch from Manarola to Riomaggiore – the Via dell’Amore, the “lovers’ path”. At present, however, the Via dell’Amore is not passable. It was closed due to a landslide. But the sections from Monterosso to Vernazza and from there on to Corniglia are also a real highlight.
Monterosso al Mare is situated at the foot of the wide Sun Valley directly on the sea. Unlike the four neighbouring towns, it has spacious architecture and excellent infrastructure. The pretty old town centre with narrow shopping streets and small squares invites you to linger. Through the San Cristoforo hill, a tunnel leads to the narrow waterfront promenade above the inviting sandy beach with the giant Neptune figure “Il Gigante”. The Romanesque “Chiesa San Giovanni Battista”, the “Chiesa San Francesco” and the “Santuario Nostra Signora di Soviore” above Monterosso are particularly worth seeing.

Vernazza is undoubtedly the prettiest of the Cinque Terre villages. The beautiful little harbour piazza with its Mediterranean serenity is the special highlight of the village. Colourful façades line the small harbour “Porticciolo”, colourful little fishing boats bob in the water and small cafés and restaurants invite you to linger. The main street leads up to the railway station, where the entire village life takes place. The winding stairs lead up to a cosy maze of houses where time seems to stand still.

Corniglia is the most compact of the villages and nestles tightly against a massive rocky outcrop high above the sea. A steep serpentine staircase with 382 steps made of red brick leads to the “Lo-Spiaggione” beach. In the heavenly tranquillity of the old village of 250 inhabitants, you can enjoy a delicious glass of Cinque Terre wine from the adjoining wine terraces. A true pearl of Corniglia is the Gothic “Chiesa San Pietro” with its well-preserved 14th-century striped façade.