The most photographed village of the Cinque Terre
On the eastern Riviera of Liguria, between Levanto and La Spezia, five tiny villages cling to the cliffs above the sea: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, the Cinque Terre. For centuries their inhabitants shaped this steep coast by hand, building thousands of kilometres of dry stone walls to create terraces for vineyards and olive groves, a landscape that, together with Portovenere and the islands, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997 and is protected by a national park. Until the twentieth century the villages could only be reached by sea or along mule tracks; today they are linked by a railway and by the famous Sentiero Azzurro, the Blue Path.
Vernazza is perhaps the most beautiful and photographed of the five: its colourful houses crowd around a tiny natural harbour, the only safe landing on this stretch of coast, with a small square open to the sea, boats pulled up on the slipway and cafés. On the rocks above the harbour stands the church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia, of the fourteenth century, with its octagonal bell tower, and on the other side rises the Doria Castle, with its round tower, built as a lookout against pirates. The most famous view of the village is from the path towards Monterosso, which climbs among vineyards and offers the classic postcard image. In 2011 a disastrous flood buried Vernazza under mud, but the village was rebuilt thanks to the work of its inhabitants and volunteers.
Tip: the paths require the Cinque Terre Card; arrive by train or boat, as cars are restricted, and avoid the midday crowds.
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