In 1860, the Florentine painter Telemaco Signorini, famous for his landscapes, met two women at a market in the Italian city of La Spezia. They were dressed so unusual that they interested a creative person. Telemaco, curious about who these people were and where they lived, followed them through the mountains and ended up in Riomaggiore, one of the five villages that now make up the Cinque Terre Park.
The painter was amazed at the splendor of the local nature, fell in love with these places and even stayed here to live. Inspired by the views of the Ligurian coast, he created several masterpieces, and sent them to Florence, Venice, London, Paris, where they were appreciated by art critics. This is how the whole world learned about the extraordinary beauty of the western Italian Riviera.
Cinque Terre National Park
About ten kilometers of the coast is occupied by the reserve "Five Lands", as it is translated from the Italian "Cinque Terre". Formidable rocky shores, restless sea, mountains covered with vineyards, orange and olive groves, picturesque beaches, mostly rocky, but there are also sandy ones. Until the beginning of the last century, these places were inaccessible for travelers. And today, it seems that the local population lives the same way as in the Middle Ages. The narrow and tall houses perched on the cliffs are painted in vibrant colors. Dry linen, hung right on the windows, adds peace and tranquility to homes.
Park infrastructure
The park consists of five tiny towns, connected by hundreds of paths and a railway, which passes mostly through tunnels in the rocks. "The Road of Love" is the name of the largest footpath along the coast. Walking along it, tourists can fully enjoy the magnificent pictures of untouched nature, the sound of the surf, and clean air. Listen to lyrical melodies performed by local musicians, enjoy the taste of white wine, which the local craftsmen are famous for, in open cafes and restaurants, taste pasta and seafood prepared right in front of visitors.
Vernazza town
The visiting card of the Cinque Terre is the town of Vernazza. Once upon a time, it consisted of two parts: a peasant village located on the hills, and a fishing village by the sea. Anchovies, caught here in a special way, and cooked according to old recipes, are famous all over the world. But the main attraction of these places is not the cuisine, although gourmets will appreciate the efforts of the local chefs.
Vernazza is a very ancient town. The first settlers from Greece came here around the 7th century. Two or three centuries later, these places were characterized by economic growth, largely due to the inaccessibility, both from land and from the sea. And the Doria family, who then ruled the coast.
Sights
A part of the village and a medieval fortress are located on a cliff protruding into the sea. This is the Doria Castle and next to it the Belforte Tower, erected in the XI century. The ancient building is now in excellent condition. Its observation deck offers an amazing view of the sea and the coast. So the guards watched the approaching pirate ships and protected their homes from looting.
The outstanding attraction of the village is the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch. It was erected in the XI or XII century, scientists have not determined exactly. It was repeatedly reconstructed and modified, in 1751 it acquired its original appearance in the Romanesque architectural style. The altar and some elements inside are in their original form. The foundation of the temple is washed by waves, already calm, thanks to a natural breakwater that protects the port of Vernazza from the unpredictable sea.
The Church of St. Francis, erected in the 17th century, stands next to the clock tower, built in the 16th century, and the remains of more ancient walls, which are simply an architectural monument. There are many places in the area of great religious importance for the indigenous population.
The Temple of the Black Madonna of the 16th century, or Cathedral of Reggio, as it is also called, deserves special attention. It contains the image of the face of the Black Madonna. Local residents venerate him sacredly. A picturesque area with amazing fountains, surrounded by evergreen cypresses, adorns the cathedral.
Architecture
Vernazza is a magnificent architectural monument, where wildlife landscapes, medieval buildings and modern buildings harmoniously coexist. Multi-colored three-, four-storey houses with variegated roofs are closely nestled against each other. Tall windows with wooden shutters complement the overall picture wonderfully.
The buildings seem to grow not in breadth, but upward. The village is surrounded by greenery, but there are no front gardens. Potted flowers decorate all free areas of sidewalks, where space only allows. There are no cars here, and not only because of the lack of space. In the Cinque Terre nature reserve, this type of transport is prohibited. Perhaps that is why this part of Liguria has the cleanest air on the entire Mediterranean coast.
The streets are so narrow, sometimes no more than two meters wide, that a company of three people cannot walk everywhere. In most cases, these are just steps leading up the mountain, or down to the port, where the central square of Rocky Village is located, or Rocky Village, as tourists call it.
Here, opposite the Church of St. Margaret, there is an old building with elegant narrow galleries. It has been a meeting place for the villagers since ancient times. Vernazza is now a large tourist center with a developed entertainment industry. And on July 20, every year, the holiday of Santa Margherita di Antioch is traditionally held. On this day, noisy folk festivals take place here, and in the evening there is an obligatory grandiose fireworks.
Night romance
Rocky Village looks very romantic at sunset. The sun sets in the sea, painting the sky in different shades, the wind dies down, the trees freeze. Lights are lit on the pier, colorful houses are transformed with bright illumination, black volcanic rocks darken even more, a dense forest is filled with magical figures created by light and shadow. All this fabulous splendor is reflected in the sea. At night, under the starry sky, the "Rocky Village" simply captivates, leaving an unforgettable experience.
Getting to Rocky Village is not difficult. Either by sea or by rail from any major nearby city. Also, tourists are transported by a bus, from the Vernazza station to the place you need to walk along the equipped paths on foot, while admiring the beauties of nature and breathing fresh air.
