A 100-metre-long bridge divides Monterosso into two parts: on one side the residential area(Fegina area) with the central station, a long beach and some receptive activities; on the other side the Porto Vecchio, the historical centre of the village crossed by the typical caruggi.
Monterosso is the largest village in the Cinque Terre and is a perfect blend of history and nature.
It preserves delightful black-and-white banded churches, the typical Ligurian style, and signs of past naval battles. Beautiful hiking trails, such as the famous Via dell'Amore, branch off from Monterosso. The town's identifying symbol is the famous Gigante, an original 14-metre-high statue depicting the god Neptune. Moreover, for an incredible view, in an elevated position there is the Convento dei Cappuccini, not to be missed.
Here is what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening in Monterosso al Mare.
What to see in Monterosso al Mare
1 - Church of San Giovanni Battista
Photo by Davide Papalini. A Genoese Gothic-style church in the town centre, a must-see.
The exterior features alternating grey and white stripes and a central marble rose window.
The interior, divided into 3 naves, contains several works of art telling the life of St John the Baptist. Also worth noting is the painting of the Madonna of the Rosary by Luca Cambiaso and the Crucifixion attributable to a pupil of Giotto.
The bell tower, with a quadrangular base, was built as a defence tower.
How to get there: from the station take Via Fegina, 8 minutes on foot, 650 metres - Get directions
Hours: 7am-7.30pm
Ticket price: free
2 - Sanctuary of Our Lady of Soviore
Photo by Davide Papalini. In the municipality of Monterosso al Mare, along provincial road 38, in the province of La Spezia, stands this sanctuary, one of the oldest in Liguria.
A place of Catholic worship located within the Cinque Terre National Park along the slopes of Mount Soviore amidst woods and terraced fields near the road linking Monterosso al Mare and Levanto.
Completely submerged in greenery and almost 500 metres above sea level, it is a popular stop for hikers from all over the world and offers relaxation and silence as well as wonderful views .
The Sanctuary offers various accommodation options for families and nature lovers: there is a hospitality house and a hostel as well as a typical restaurant.
How to get there: 6 km from the village; 10 minutes by car via Via Padre Semeria and SP38; alternatively, bus from Vettora P. Garibaldi, stop at Colle di Gritta and from there continue on foot for 2 km - Get directions
Hours: always accessible
Ticket price: free
3 - Fegina Beach
Unlike the other villages that make up the Cinque Terre, there are beaches in Monterosso, and they are beautiful. The most famous is Fegina beach, which in 2007 was proclaimed one of the 25 sexiest in the world by the American magazine'Forbes'.
Walking along the seaside promenade, past the castle, the beach is right in front of the old town. It is a beautiful beach of golden sand with a pebbly shore, overlooking a very beautiful, turquoise, crystal-clear sea with a sloping seabed.
Surrounding it is the characteristic jagged profile of the rocky coast of the Cinque Terre, with sheer cliffs; the promenade is dotted with kiosks and shops. The beach is well equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas, but there is also a free beach area.
How to get there: 50 metres from the station; 1 minute walk - Get directions
Hours: always accessible
Ticket price: free
4 - Capuchin Friars Convent
A marvellous little church of the Capuchin friars, with an adjoining convent, set in a wonderful elevated position in the village overlooking all the Cinque Terre. It offers magnificent views that can be admired from the various windows, loggias and walkways.
To reach it, one can choose between an uphill path or a long flight of steps, both with panoramic views.
Church and monastery preserve important paintings, in particular of the Genoese school and a Crucifixion attributed to Van Dick or his pupils. The monastery offers an atmosphere of peace, silence and spirituality in pure Franciscan style.
The monastery ranked first in Italy in the census'I luoghi del cuore 2014' (Places of the heart 2014) of the FAI - Fondo Ambiente Italiano.
How to get there: from the station proceed east on Via Fegina towards Via Bastioni. 5 minutes on foot, 600 metres - Get directions
Hours: always accessible
Ticket cost: free
5 - Oratory of Santa Croce or dei Bianchi
Photo by sailko. Small and delightful oratory in the historic centre. The exterior is typical of Liguria, with black and white stripes and a central rose window. Inside, you can admire an adorned crucifix, of the kind used for processions in honour of patron saints, a 19th-century organ of the Pistoiese school and a wooden choir loft with a painted parapet.
There are also numerous ex-votos in favour or left by sailors, as witnessed by the small vessel hanging in the centre of the nave.
The oratory was built in the 17th century, during the Counter-Reformation, when confraternities were founded. This one of the Whites ran the village hospital and cared for the sick.
It owes its name to the colour of the robes used by the confraternities during processions.
Directions: immediately to the right of the Cathedral or 800 metres from the station; 10 minutes on foot via Via Fegina - Get directions
Hours: 8am-6.30pm
Ticket price: free
6 - Punta Mesco
Photo by Davide Papalini. This is the green promontory that represents the natural partition separating Monterosso from Levanto.
It is 300 metres above sea level and is composed of several layers of sandstone piled up together that create wonderful sheer walls.
The trek to Punta Mesco from Monterosso starts from Figina and is 2.5 km long. It takes place on good, well-marked paths, so it is fairly easy and well worth it for the beauty one encounters along the way.
The ideal period is spring: the limited density of tourists allows one to fully appreciate, in (almost) total solitude, the lush and wild vegetation, the scents of the maquis, the flowers of every colour, the views of the sea and the sounds of the forest.
Arecommended stop is the Podere Case Lovara, an old rural farmhouse overlooking the sea with 45 hectares of land recently renovated, managed by the FAI, which can be visited.
Shortly after Case Lovara, you reach Punta Mesco; a stop here is a must for the beauty of the panorama.
How to get there: 2.5 km from Fegina - 50 minutes on foot - Get directions
Hours: always accessible
Ticket price: free
7 - Oratory of the Neri
Photo by Davide Papalini. The'Mortis et Orationis' oratory is the counterpart to the Oratory of the Confraternity of Santa Croce or of the Whites.
Baroque in style, its interior houses a statue of St Anthony Abbot, from the vanished convent dedicated to the Saint, present around the year 1000 on the promontory of Punta Mesco.
The building of the Oratory dates back to the 16th century, the period of the Counter-Reformation, during which associations of devout lay people dedicated to good works developed.
Usually, each village was home to at least two confraternities, as the case of Monterosso demonstrates.
The name derives from the colour of the robes used by the confraternities during processions.
How to get there: just behind the Church of San Giovanni Battista - Get directions
Hours: 8am-6.30pm
Ticket price: free
8 - Eugenio Montale Literary Park
Created on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Nobel Prize for Literature awarded to the poet, the aim of the park is to make visitors relive the intense emotions that the poet Montale managed to imprint through the verses of his lyrics.
The symbol of the park is the Art Nouveau house that the poet called'the yellowish pagoda' and'the house of the two palm trees', and where he used to spend his summers.
For a special, in-depth experience, it is possible to visit the park by taking part in organised tours with guides who lead visitors through the terraces overlooking the sea, immersing them in the environment that inspired Montale. During the walks, the poems most connected to Monterosso (and the Cinque Terre) contained in the collection'Ossi di seppia' are recited.
Montale said:'Monterosso was a very formative season, but it was also the start of introversion, it led to an imprisonment in the cosmos'.
How to get there: 450 metres from Fegina. Proceed west on Via Fegina towards Via Molinelli - Get directions
Hours: park always accessible, the mansion is now private property and therefore cannot be visited
9 - Statue of the Giant
Photo by giomodica. An imposing statue representing the God of the Seas that has protected Monterosso a Mare since 1910 and has become the symbol of the town itself.
At the end of Fegina beach, it is a sculpture in reinforced concrete and iron, the work of Arrigo Minerbi of Ferrara and engineer Levacher.
14 metres high and weighing 1,700 quintals, the statue originally depicted Neptune together with a large shell-shaped terrace, and adorned the splendid Villa Pastine, home of the Pastine couple, Giovanni and Juanita, Monterosso inhabitants who had returned from Argentina after making their fortune.
The statue and villa suffered bombing during the Second World War and were also damaged in 1966 by a strong sea storm.
The Giant, however, proved his strength and resilience, and in fact he is still there, staring out to sea. The God of the Seas did not emerge completely unscathed: he lost an arm, his trident and his shell-like structure. But the beauty of the Giant lies precisely in his amputations, which tell how the fearless colossus of Monterosso withstood the fury of war and the constancy of the sea.
How to get there: 850 metres from Fegina. Proceed west on Via Fegina towards Via Molinelli, 12 minutes on foot - Get directions
Hours: always accessible
Ticket cost: free
10 - Scoglio di Monterosso
The'Gaggiata' is the historic rock that marks the boundary between the'tragagià' beach and the municipal baths.
Originally, it was a single rock that was later split in two by the violence of sea storms.
One of the most scenic and photographed spots in the Cinque Terre, for the contrast between its dark colour, the light colour of the sand and the blue of the sea water.
How to get there: 120 metres from Fegina. Proceed east on Via Fegina towards Via Bastioni for 1 minute - Get directions
Hours: always accessible
Ticket cost: free
Monterosso al Mare Itinerary in a day
Have breakfast at Bar Lo Spuntino (€3.00) and then head to Figina beach, the most beautiful and spacious beach in Monterosso and the Cinque Terre in general. The choice between free beach and establishment is yours. During your morning of relaxation, don't forget to admire the Giant rising imposingly above your head.
For lunch, a fixed appointment at Il Massimo della Focaccia (stuffed slice + drink €5.00).
Dispose of your lunch with a nice walk to the rock that has become the symbol of Monterosso. Leave it on your right and start the ascent towards the Convento dei Cappuccini; on the way you will come across the statue of St Francis with the wolf and then, once at the top, enjoy the peaceful serenity of the place, the splendid panorama and the beautiful works preserved in the church.
Then go down to the village and visit the Cathedral with its typical black and white striped façade, theOratorio dei Bianchi and the Oratorio dei Neri.
Before dinner, relax by browsing the small shops selling typical handicrafts.
For dinner, we suggest the historic Ciak Restaurant (€40.00).
One-day itinerary at a glance
Breakfast at Bar Lo Spuntino
Figina Beach
The Giant
Lunch at Il Massimo della Focaccia
Lo Scoglio
Convent and Church of the Capuchin Friars
Church of St John the Baptist (7:00-19:30, free)
Oratory of Santa Croce or dei Bianchi (8am-6:30pm, free)
Oratory of the Blacks (8:00-18:30, free)
Dinner at Ciak Restaurant
Where to eat in Monterosso al Mare
Ciak Restaurant: Ligurian fish specialities in the well-kept rooms of a spacious family-run restaurant with open kitchen.
Average price per person: €40.00
Address and contacts: piazza Don Minzoni, 6(Get directions) / tel: 0187 817014Belvedere Restaurant: specialities such as fish soup and bruschette al pesto served in a sober space with large windows and a veranda overlooking the sea.
Average price per person: €45.00
Address and contacts: piazza Garibaldi, 38(Get directions) / tel: 0187 817033La Taverna di Monterosso: historic eatery, a little off the beaten track under the railway bridge. It offers seafood and land specialities; choice of two tourist menus or à la carte.
Average price per person: €35.00
Address and contacts: via Molinelli, 39(Get directions) / tel: 0187 829111
What to do in the evening: nightlife areas and best clubs
Photos by Lee & Chantelle McArthur. In the Cinque Terre it is difficult to talk about nightlife, only in Monterosso is there any club that stays open late. Lovers of the wee hours will therefore have to move on to more lively destinations.
The nearest city (8 minutes by train) is the port city of La Spezia, where there are some discos and many bars; but also in Sestri Levante and Portofino there is a good amount of restaurants, bars and discos.
Fast Bar: a very nice rock-themed venue with background music. Cocktails, beer, wine, tasty sandwiches and pizza.
Address: via Roma, 13(Get directions)Bar Colpi di Timone Monterosso: at the exit of the train station, on the left, it offers mainly cocktails for young people and foreign tourists.
Address: via Fegina, 46 (Getdirections)Bar Giò 5 Terre: informal location on the seafront, perfect for an unpretentious aperitif
Address: via Fegina, 92 (Getdirections)
Plan your stay in Monterosso al Mare: info and useful advice
How to get there: exit the A12 motorway at the Levanto - Carrodano tollgate; before reaching the village of Levanto, at the second roundabout take the direction for Monterosso.
The train is the most convenient means of transport, taking the La Spezia - Genoa line - Get directionsHow to get around: being totally ZTL, the best way is on foot
Where to park: parking spaces are available both in the Fegina locality (300 spaces) and in the old town area (Loreto locality). Both €2.50/hour in high season.
In all the Cinque Terre most of the car parks are reserved for residents and the possibility of parking is rather limited. It is therefore advisable to use the train.Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €116.00 per room - see offers
What to see nearby: Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia, Riomaggiore, Levanto, Portovenere
