Village
Monterosso al Mare
Cinque Terre · Liguria
QUICK INFORMATION
- CATEGORY
- Village
- COUNTRY
- Italy
- REGION
- Cinque Terre · Liguria
- DURATION
- 1–2 days
ABOUT THIS ATTRACTION
Monterosso al Mare is the largest of the five villages and the only one with a real beach — a broad strip of sand and shingle that makes it the natural base for a swimming visit. The village is split in two by a hill: the old town, with its medieval carruggio and the church of San Giovanni Battista, and the Fegina quarter across the headland, where the railway station and most of the hotels are. The Capuchin monastery on the hill above, with its statue of Neptune, gives the view over the bay. Monterosso is the most resort-like of the five, but the old town keeps the character of a fishing village.
HISTORY & BACKGROUND
The story behind it
Monterosso was founded in the early medieval period and held by the Republic of Genoa from the 13th century, like the other villages. Its name comes from the red of the rocks above the village. The Capuchin monastery on the hill, the Convento dei Cappuccini, was founded in the 17th century and holds paintings by Van Dyck, including a Crucifixion. The village was the most fortified of the five, with a wall and towers against pirate raids, parts of which survive. The 2011 flood damaged Monterosso as well, and the village has since been restored.
WHAT TO SEE
What to see here
The beach — the only proper sandy beach in the Cinque Terre, with the old town behind it.
The old town — the medieval carruggio, the church of San Giovanni Battista with its striped façade, and the Aurora tower.
The Capuchin monastery — the 17th-century convent on the hill above, with the Van Dyck Crucifixion and the view over the bay.
The Fegina quarter — the newer quarter across the headland, with the station and the seafront promenade.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why it matters
Monterosso is the village that makes the Cinque Terre a beach destination as well as a walking one — the only one with a real beach and the most accommodation. For a visitor who wants to swim or to base themselves in one place, it is the natural choice, and the old town and the monastery above keep the historical character that the beach might otherwise obscure.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before you go
MAP & LOCATION
Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
44.1461, 9.6439
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FOOD & DRINK
Where to eat nearby
Nessun Dorma — a celebrated bar and kitchen above the harbour in Manarola, for focaccia, pesto and the view
Gambero Rosso — a seafood restaurant in Vernazza’s old town, for fresh catch and trofie al pesto
Cappun Magru — a refined restaurant in Monterosso for traditional Ligurian cooking, book ahead
A Cantina da Mananan — a beloved trattoria in Corniglia for local cooking and Sciacchetrà wine
Rio Maggiore — a harbour-side kitchen in Riomaggiore for fried anchovies and focaccia
HOTELS & STAYS
Where to stay nearby
Hotel Porto Roca — a hotel on the cliffs above Monterosso with a pool and sea views
La Torretta — a charming guesthouse above the harbour in Manarola, with a terrace
Hotel Gianni Franzi — simple rooms above a restaurant in Vernazza’s old town, with harbour views
A Cà du Sciensa — a small guesthouse in Riomaggiore, good value for a village stay
NEARBY DESTINATIONS
Continue the journey
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