Discover Riomaggiore, A Small Italian Town
With less than 2000 inhabitants, this municipality in northwestern Italy belonging to the province of La Spezia (Liguria region) is the easternmost of the five towns in the area called Cinque Terre. In this article we will tell you all about Riomaggiore, declared a World Heritage Site and a truly beautiful enclave.
Strolling around Riomaggiore
Within the Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore is the last of the towns to visit if we do the typical journey from north to south. We recommend you make the journey this way, so you will save the best for “desserts”.
The town is characterized by its cleanliness, its order and its colorful houses, which descend from the side of a mountain. The town stretches between the mountains and the sea and has a picturesque pier and boardwalk from which to admire the entirety of this region, which looks like something out of a postcard.
Riomaggiore is very quiet, ideal to rest and lose yourself in time. We recommend that you walk quietly through its streets, discover its hidden corners, marvel at its buildings and stop at a small shop to buy handicrafts or at a tavern to enjoy a glass of local wine.
The treasures of Riomaggiore
Within the typical tour of the town, we can start with the highest attractions: the church of San Juan Bautista and the castle of Riomaggiore. The first is a small temple built in 1340 and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in all the Cinque Terre. In the surroundings you can see children playing, housewives hanging clothes or chatting with the neighbors, very Italian style.
The Castellazzo di Cerricó is a building that was built in the 13th century with a square base from which the two walls and the two circular towers “rise”. Today it houses a cultural and educational center.
What else to see in Riomaggiore
Going down Riomaggiore you can find other interesting sites such as the Oratorio dei Disciplinati, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montenero and the Oratory of San Rocco. As you get closer to the sea you will see the tunnel that goes from the train station to the center of town, with its colorful mosaics, and the stone boardwalk to enjoy incredible views.
From there, follow a small path south to reach one of Riomaggiore’s best-kept treasures: a secret beach. Small and made of stones, it is perfect to rest and watch the sunset. Ideal to end a walk through Cinque Terre with a flourish!
The Cinque Terre from north to south
We could not save the best for last, so now we tell you what you can do before visiting the beautiful Riomaggiore. Travel along the coast of the Ligurian Sea from Punta Mesco, stopping at each of the following four towns (which together with the previous one form the well-known Cinque Terre route).
1. Monterosso al Mare
It has the longest beaches in the region and is located in a small gulf protected by an artificial breakwater. To the west is the Fegina spa. To access it, you must go through a tunnel of a few meters (on the other side of the train station).
2. Vernazza
It has no traffic, since its road leads to a parking lot on the edge of the town and retains its air of a fishing village. The sights of Vernazza are the church of Santa Margherita d’Antionchia, the castle of Doria, the hermitage of the Santuario di Nostra Signora di Reggio and the north-west beach.
3. Corniglia
It is the smallest of the five villages in the Cinque Terre and is situated on a 100 meter high promontory surrounded by vineyards. To access from the road or the train station you must climb no less than 377 steps.
4. Manarola
It is believed to be the oldest of the towns in the complex because the cornerstone found in the church of San Lorenzo indicates the year 1160 as the founding year. It is famous for its Sciacchetrá wine and for its “Way of Love” that connects it with Riomaggiore between hills and vineyards.
