"Monterosso"
Monterosso al Mare is the most western town of the Cinque Terre. The village is protected by hills covered with vineyard and olive groves. Monterosso has beautiful beaches, steep rugged cliffs and crystalline waters.
The ancient, original centre of Monterosso lies on the summit of the hill of San Cristoforo, which separates the present village into two. Overall it is the largest village of the "National Park of the Five Lands" and the old centre is most notable for it's interesting narrow lanes and colourful houses.
During the 12th and 13th centuries there was an increase in population and families began to move down the slope of the hill, setting up house on the banks of the stream called Branco (now covered). This part of the village, known as Monterosso Vecchio (Old Monterosso), has remained practically intact and exhibits the same 'linear' characteristic as the other villages of the Cinque Terre. A large part of it is made up of the remains of the 'castrum' Obertengo, with the beautiful parish of San Giovanni Battista at the crossroads of the main streets. In the 16th century Monterosso was defended by thirteen towers three of which remain today being the tower of the castle, the medieval tower converted into San Giovanni church bell tower and the the Aurora tower. Visit the church of Capuchin Father "San Francesco", from where one can admire a wonderful panorama of the village below and the promontories that enclose the Cinque Terre. The church has a painting of the Cambiaso and a "Crucifixion" attributed to Van Dyck.
A modern residential quarter meanders along the sea view walk in the nearby small bay of Fegina, which gives its name to the area. Monterosso's beach is the longest of the Cinque Terre coast and this, along with the housing developments of the new quarter, has produced the wealth of tourism enjoyed by the village. Monterosso in fact boasts the greatest number of hotels and rooms for rent in the Cinque Terre and along the Eastern Riviera of La Spezia.
Monterosso is the cultural and major historical centre of the region. Monterosso has a small but nicely maintained beach that is a sunbathers and swimmers delight. Markets open every morning on the sea front where you can purchase local products and or handicrafts. As the largest of the villages it also has more shops and alleyways to explore. It is the best place to buy lemon flavoured honey, lemon Grappa (very alcoholic Italian spirit drink) and other lemon based delicacies favoured in the region. The main tourist information centre for the region is located in Monterosso
Monterosso has the best beaches of the Cinque Terre villages and the most wine shops, artisan shops, hotels and restaurants. More than the other villages it is a small tourist resort with some nightlife. This gives it a different feel, complementing the quietness of Manarola and Corniglia. The distinctive 'carruggi' (small streets) of Monterosso Vecchio are very different from the wider spaces and occassional vehicle traffic seen in Fegina and along the seaside.
Here you will find a wide range of souvenir shops and wine cellars where you can taste the rare dessert wine "Sciacchetrà" or the dry white wine "5 Terre". On the hill you can visit the Convent of the "Capuccini" from where you can admire the incredible landscape. Descending on the opposite side of the village you will reach the end of village where a dominant sculpture of Neptune (1910), known as the "Gigante”", stands.
The Cinque Terre main tourist office is in Monterosso al Mare, in Piazza Colombo.
