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How to get there: If you leave Genoa, Parma, or Livorno by car exit at La Spezia-Santo Stefano Magra.
After crossing La Spezia you will be on the Litoranea for the Cinque Terre and you will reach Riomaggiore. The heart of the town can’t be reached by car, but there is a large parking lot that allows you to reach the town by foot or by bus. The landscape of Riomaggiore is enchanting and it highlights the magnificent sea life. Around the town you can admire hills and vineyards that enclose the typical fishermen homes around the well lighted Genovese style Church. This precious urban gem dates back to the 7th century A.C. when a group of Greeks escaped the persecution of Leone III and landed on this fortunate land. Today its landscape has developed vertically between two mountains and the main road is near the Rivus Maior Torrent where its place-name originates.
The territory became property of the Fieschi family and that of the Genovese Republic in 1276. It was officially separated from the community of Biassa in 1343 and before this its inhabitants lived above the coast in three villas: “Cazeni et Montenigro” (Casen and Montenero), “Cacinagola” (Cacinagora), and “Ceroco et lemine” (Sarico and Limen). In the first years of the 14th century they began to descend towards the valley and they dedicated themselves to the sea as well as in transporting marble. Carved out of the rock an enchanting road led to Manarola and it is known as the “Via dell’Amore because of its beauty and romantic landscape that can be appreciated in the 20 minute paradise route. Very interesting is the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist that is located in the upper part of the town and it has fantastic art pieces by Fiasella and Maragliano. Its original nucleus dates back to the 14th century and the other part is of the second half of the 19th century.
From the Cerricò hill you can enjoy a breathtaking view and here you can see the ruins of a castle that was built before the 1200’s. The Sanctuary della Madonna di Montenero dominates the gulf of the Cinque Terre and it can be reached by the unique “Trenino del Vino” (Wine Train). Riomaggiore is the home of the National Park of the Cinque Terre that controls the sea and it is rich in flora, fauna, and fish. The Center of Environmental Education is an extraordinary botanical route that is immersed in the sublime Mediterranean shrubs that takes it visitors through a journey of bird watching and writing. Many of these enchanting corners have been painted by Telemaco Signorini and this is how the vibrant polychrome of the town exploded and it expresses the sensuality of a unique landscape.
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