Excursions to the 5 Terre


	From Rapallo	Price return ticket 2 class Intercity ( approx. )
Train Timetable	50 min. to Monterosso approx.	15.00 €


		Ferry price Return Tickets
Ferries Table	60 min. approx.	32.00 € (approx)

		Back and for included gas & pay toll
By car	90 min. approx. Monterosso.	40 € per car approx. ( pay toll and gas included ).


	Monterosso : The first one and the biggest ...continue Vernazza :The most known ... the crowdest ... continue Corniglia : Wonderful...small bar..on a hilltop ...377 steps continue Manarola : Lovely ... small... to be discovered... continue Riomaggiore : The smallest... " harsh and wilde "... continue See 5 Terre on Google Maps Check 5 Terre Walking Paths

Monterosso
	The village of Monterosso has a medieval old town larger than the other village of the 5 Terre; the development of a modern residential district, stretches along the beach, on the coast. The historical origin of this country dates back to 643, when the hill people, fleeing the barbarian invasions, settled down near the sea. The name probably derives from the red hair of the family then dominant. In the past, Monterosso had a major tuna trap, which led the village to be renowned for its fish, especially anchovies and salted scabeccio, fried fish, preserved in vinegar in wooden barrels. The original center was on the hill of San Cristoforo, which today separates the two areas of the village, and spread along the banks of the River Branco, now covered. Monterosso Vecchio ( old ) has remained virtually intact and has the same features as the other villages of the Cinque Terre, with its typical tower houses crossed by narrow alleys. Being prey of fighting on the sea, there were made several defensive works. Of this impressive defensive system remain the Castle, overlooking the sea, which includes three round towers, some parts of the walls, the medieval tower, now the bell tower of the Church of San Giovanni, and the Aurora Tower, a remnant of the thirteen towers that in the sixteenth century encircled the town. The beach of Monterosso is the largest on the coast of the Cinque Terre and alternates sandy stretches in isolated rocks.

Vernazza
	Vernazza is the village of the five Lands that more than others retained the appearance of sea village, with its comfortable and safe natural harbor and a seafaring tradition known since antiquity. Its name is derived from "Gens Vulnetia", an ancient Roman family, which owned the slaves, once freed, they founded the country. Over the centuries, Vernazza has enjoyed strong economic and political importance, as evidenced by the style of its houses and streets, adorned with verandas and rich porches . Even today, it is indeed a noble and elegant, clinging to a steep cliff. Steep and narrow streets takesdown to the main road that leads to a small square in front of the marina. Its houses, the same type of tower-houses of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Monterosso, are covered by a dense network of narrow alleys and placed on a variety of angles and slopes offering ever new glimpses, as Porch Palace which is situated close to the sea. Other architectural elements that characterize the village, are the complex defensive system that the Genoese organized to protect Vernazza by the Saracens and the barbarian invasions, their enemies. By exploiting the natural inlet of the bay, was built a port for galleys, which, only in the 5 Terre, was useful during the struggle with the Pisani. The numerous fortifications were built before the eleventh century, were repeatedly expanded at later dates. Of them remain today some interesting evidence, including the Castle of Doria, the watch towers, the Tower and parts of the walls.

Corniglia
	Corniglia differs from the other villages of the Cinque Terre as it does not directly facing the sea, but it stands on top of a cliff a hundred feet high, surrounded on three sides by vineyards and terraces, and the fourth side overlooking the sea. To reach Corniglia up the "Lardarina", a long brick staircase, made by 33 flights with 377 steps, or take a road that leads from the railway to the village. The town's origins date back to Roman times, as evidenced by its name, derived from "Gens Cornelia, the Roman family, who owned the estate. The layout of Corniglia original features compared to those of other villages: the houses are lower, raised only recently, similar to those of inland towns. The town grew up along the main street, Via Fieschi, and the houses on the one hand, they lean on this road, on the other, overlooking the sea. From below, Corniglia looks like a small gem stone, with narrow lanes and a terrace carved into the rock from which you can see all the other four villages, two on one side and two on the other. In some documents of 1276-77, there is news of a castle which has not been found not even possible to image its location. The only ruins remained, belonging to the Genoese fortifications, is a fortress dating from around 1556, situated on a cliff overlooking the sea.

Manarola
	Perched on a steep ridge of dark rock, with its small port enclosed by two rocky outcrops, Manarola is the second village of the 5 Terre. Its origins are more ancient than those of Riomaggiore, since it was founded by the inhabitants of the settlement, probably Roman Volastra. Its name derives in fact from the Latin "Manium arula", or temple dedicated to Mani. The houses seem to be a single block of stone, perched on the hill, like a great castle overlooking the sea. In the upper part of and extends a welcoming place where they are concentrated in the country's religious buildings: churches, oratories and Bell Tower create a unique architectural space, which, even today, is the main gathering place for manarolesi. Particularly curious is the pyramid of concrete, painted white, which, springing up among the houses, is a trigonometric signal for sailors. Behind Manarola you can admire the typical terraces, vineyards and stone walls, down to the sea there are pleasant walks and scenic spots of extraordinary beauty. Among these, the most famous trail is the Way of Love, connecting Manarola to Riomaggiore. Following this short course, carved into the rock overlooking the sea, the view gets lost in the green hills on the one hand, and nell' "azzurro" of the sky and the sea on the other. On the road between Manarola and Volastra meets the Cantina Sociale Cooperativa of Agriculture of the Cinque Terre, which offers the chance to witness the production of the famous local wines, guided tours by appointment, or a better one to drink the production directly!

Riomaggiore

Il primo borgo che s'incontra partendo dalla Spezia è Riomaggiore. Sviluppatosi verticalmente, il paese è attraversato da scale e scalinate che si diramano tra le case, addossate le une alle altre e tinteggiate con i tipici colori liguri. Il materiale di costruzione è locale: le pietre per la muratura, l'ardesia per i tetti, l'intonaco verniciato di giallo o rosa per le facciate. Sotto la via principale scorre il torrente Rivus Maior, che dà nome al borgo, le prime notizie del quale risalgono a circa sette secoli fa. A Riomaggiore inizia la famosa Via dell'Amore, un sentiero tagliato nella roccia, a picco sul mare, che conduce a Manarola, secondo borgo delle 5 terre. Percorrendo la romantica stradina, ormai nota in tutto il mondo, si ammira lo splendido paesaggio, si ascoltare il rumore delle onde che si infrangono sugli scogli, si respira l'inconfodibile salmastro. La posizione amena del sentiero, ricavato nella roccia a strapiombo sul mare, rende la passeggiata un'esperienza naturalistica molto particolare. La sensazione di immergersi completamente nel paesaggio è stata ed è tutt'ora così forte che probabilmente gli abitanti decisero di consacrare la Via al sentimento dell'amore. Si racconta che in passato sia stato rifugio degli innamorati, ispirati dal mare nelle loro romantiche dichiarazioni. Poeti e pittori di fama, stregati dall'incantesimo di questa via sospesa tra cielo e mare, hanno trovato qui il genio per molte delle loro composizioni. La Via dell'Amore rappresenta anche l'inizio di un grande spettacolo naturale, il primo passo verso la scoperta di valori ambientali, storici e culturali di un territorio, preservatosi nella sua primitiva bellezza.
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