Monterosso, Italy: The Most Sought-After Resort Of Cinque Terre

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Monterosso, one of the villages of the famous Cinque Terre, is a town and commune in the Province of La Spezia, which is a part of the Liguria region. Crystalline turquoise water, a beautiful sandy beach, rugged cliffs and plentiful restaurants make this steep fishing village one the most sought-after resorts of the Cinque Terre.

The village is surrounded by hills covered with vineyards, olive groves, scrubby bushes and small trees.

The village center bustles high on a hillside and is connected by stone steps with the port and seaside promenade. The town itself is divided into the old town and the new town.

A single tunnel that is used by pedestrians and cars separates the town into two. The ancient part of the village is separated from the modern part by the medieval tower, Aurora, that stands on the hills of Cappuccini.

A Little Bit Of History

Panorama of Monterosso

According to legend, the Cinque Terre area was given as reward to the Rubri, Vulnetti and Cornelii, the victorious patrician families from Rome.

It was during the 1st century B.C. that the earliest community was formed in the village of Albereto, which is now a part of Monterosso.

The Roman tombs that were discovered in the 19th century near the Santuario di Soviore stand as a testimony to this era. The first historic document with the name “Monte Russo” is the deed of donation drawn up by Marchese Guido degli Obertenghi.

The construction of the parish church of San Giovanni Battista was completed in 1307 and the population gradually started to move down into the valley and began to inhabit the current town.

In 1815, the Republic of Genoa was annexed by the Kingdom of Sardinia and this paved the way for the economic revival of the Cinque Terre.

The Italian government built a rail line in 1874, and this connected the Cinque Terre with the outside world after centuries of isolation.

For a brief period from 1948 to mid-1949, this tiny port was excluded from the Cinque Terre trail as the village was considered to be too large to be a part of the trail.

Castello di Monterosso

Monterosso is famous for its lemon trees, olives, grapes and white wines.

The Ave Maria Festival is celebrated here with fireworks lighting the bay. A boat carrying the statue of Ave Maria leads the procession on the bay, and on land altar boys with candles and chanting priests lead the procession. The candle bearing crowd follows behind.

Some of the other famous festivals that take place here are the Lemon Feast, Flower Festival, and the Salted Anchovy and Olive Oil Festival.