Monterosso al Mare

The westernmost and least steep village of the Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare has always been a village of farmers and fishermen, where artisanal fishing has partly survived to this day.

Sights and heritage

Monterosso has the largest beach in the Cinque Terre, a mix of rocks and sand.
Towards its northern end and the Fegina district, at the edge of the beach stands the famous Statue of the Giant, 14 metres tall, representing Neptune, built in 1910.
Fegina is the modern extension of the village, with the equipped beach and the Art Nouveau villa of the Montale family. The Eugenio Montale Literary Park was opened by the Dante Alighieri Society on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the poet’s Nobel Prize in Literature.

The Capuchin convent is located on the San Cristoforo hill, between the two beaches and between the Fegina district and the historic centre, on the site of the old castle, and includes the church of San Francesco.

The heart of the village faces its small gulf. From it stand out historic buildings inherited from a defensive past, such as the medieval tower that became the bell tower of the church of San Giovanni Battista, the ruins of the castle on the San Cristoforo hill overlooking the coast with its three towers, or the Aurora Tower, which is the only survivor of the thirteen towers that protected the village in the 16th century. It was converted into a trendy bar-restaurant.

In the charming historic centre, with its narrow alleys inherited from the Middle Ages between its tall colourful houses (case-torri), the church of San Giovanni Battista (13th-15th century) is the main church of Monterosso, with its fine black-and-white Gothic façade.
There are also two oratories, including that of the Confraternity of the Neri Mortis et Orationis (16th century), a Franciscan convent (17th century) in a dominant position, and a statue of Saint Francis,

Five kilometres up in the hills, the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Soviore is one of the oldest in Liguria, at an altitude of 477 metres, a restful stop for travellers where one can eat and stay, with beautiful views of the sea as far as Corsica. Dating back to a remote era, it was rebuilt in Romanesque style, then Gothic, and enlarged in the 18th century. The view embraces a beautiful stretch of the coast.

The Sentier Azzurro allows a beautiful excursion to Vernazza to the east and Levanto to the west. However, towards Vernazza, a toll was introduced in 2024 (Cinque Terre Park).

Gallery

Map

Information

• Wikipedia page: en.wikipedia.org
• Tourist portals: www.lecinqueterre.org