"Corniglia"
The village of Corniglia differs substantially from the others of the Cinque Terre thanks to its elevated position above the sea. Placed on a steep promontory a hundred metres above the sea, with two exclusive small beaches at its sides, the descent is steep and inaccessible from the sea. All of the Cinque Terre towns are accessible by boat except Corniglia. In the 19th century, Italy burrowed through the cliffs of the Ligurian coast and installed a railroad, which runs at sea level from Genoa to La Spezia and stops at all five Cinque Terre towns. Corniglia can be reached from the railway station through a long series of steps in brick (33 flights totalling 377 steps) (an elevator is being built). However there is also a narrow road leading from the railway to the village and an electric "minibus" meets most trains, running about every 20 minutes, and will save you the walk to the village (3000 lira per person, 1000 lira per luggage)
Corniglia is not really undiscovered, though it is the smallest of the five towns in Liguria, in Italy’s northwest. Corniglia, from the Roman name Cornelius, is an ancient village with its origins dating back to 2nd century Roman times. Later between the 9th and 14th centuries much of the original vallage visible today was constructed, and Corniglia still preserves typical stone buildings of remarkable beauty embellished by sandstone portals. From the terraced balcony overlooking the village it is possible to admire the ancient "valley of the mills" which is intensively cultivated. Not to be missed a swim at Guvano's beach and the "Sciacchetrà" festival that takes place each year in May. We suggest a visit to the Church of San Pietro (1334), which is considered one of the most significant monuments in the gothic-ligurian style of the Cinque Terre and a view from the Belvedere, an enchanting terrace on the seaside.
Because of its altitude and its small size, Corniglia is the least visited of the five towns, and once you reach it, even though you may be only two or three hours from the airport of Pisa or Genoa, or a half-day from Rome, you feel a wonderful, stress-relieving sense of isolation. It is a town that some guidebooks mention only in passing. Both the food and the wine are grown on the sides of cliffs and in spaces hacked out and terraced and where, for hundreds of years, grapes and olive groves have been cultivated. Corniglia has been isolated for all its existence, and that is reflected in the character of its people. Corniglia provides a taste of real Italy, not just within the village but beyond. Once you are in Corniglia, you can begin to sample its offerings, its wonderful regional food and the spectacular yet convenient setting.
The village layout of Corniglia is also different from the other villages along the Cinque Terre.The houses are smaller and not as narrow or tall making them similar to those of inland villages. The residential area develops along the main road, via Fieschi; on one side the houses look on to the opposite side of the street and on the other, they look out onto the sea. Of Corniglia's fortifications some remains survive of a stronghold dating back to 1556, on a cliff plunging into the sea. From a document dated 1276 there is news of a castle of which there remains no trace.
