Squeezed between the sea and the mountains, Riomaggiore is the easternmost village of the Cinque Terre , characterized by the typical stepped structure, with colorful houses leaning against each other, overlooking the marina and which seem to touch the sky.
The town has very ancient origins. Walking through the uphill streets allows you to admire the remains of its ancient past and savor the slow pace of life that is marked here by the rhythm of the tides.
The famous Via Dell’Amore starts from here , a path overlooking the sea that connects the other villages of the Cinque Terre.
Indeed, Riomaggiore offers various possibilities for an active holiday; as well as trekking and walking, on foot or by mountain bike, you can also dedicate yourself to diving.
It is the ideal place to spend your holidays immersed in nature and in a postcard landscape.
What to see in Riomaggiore
1 – Castello di Riomaggiore
Photo by Massimilianogalardi. Also known as the Castellazzo di Cerrico and overlooking the sea and in a suggestive point of the upper part of the village, it offers wonderful views .
The fort with a quadrangular plan with the longer sides slightly converging towards the sea, has a wall formed by two large and squat circular towers. At the top of the external staircase there is a beautiful clock.
It was built in 1260 by the will of the Marquis Turcotti, lords of Ripalta, and was completed by the Genoese in the 15th-16th century after the dominion of Niccolo Fieschi. With the French domination of Napoleon it was converted into a cemetery; today it is used as a location for events, demonstrations and private ceremonies.
To get to the castle it is necessary to go through several stairways, especially if you start from the coast of Campione, the lowest point in all of Riomaggiore.
- How to get there: 500 meters from the station via Via Telemaco Signorini – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible for the external overview; interior cannot be visited because it is used as a location for events, demonstrations and ceremonies
- Ticket price: not accessible internally
2 – Port and beach of Riomaggiore
The port is the most loved and known landscape of the village , characterized by colorful boats moored on the shore and sheltered by a natural inlet. Two descents allow you to go down to the sea and swim.
The small beach consists of a small cove of pebbles sheltered from the winds, a tongue of concrete that crosses the rocks on which tourists and locals sunbathe or use it as a springboard to dive into the water.
Riomaggiore is part of the Cinque Terre National Park . Its marine area is characterized by essentially rocky coastal bottoms.
- How to get there: 550 meters from the station via Via San Giacomo – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
3 – Sanctuary of Our Lord of Montenero
Photo by Groume. Catholic place of worship located 340 meters above sea level and offers a wonderful view to say the least .
Inside it preserves the sacred image of the Assumption of the Virgin which, according to an ancient legend handed down orally by the inhabitants of Riomaggiore, was brought up here in medieval times by Greek refugees fleeing from iconoclastic persecution.
Subjected to various reconstruction works, the Sanctuary took on its current form around 1800.
It is part of the so-called “Cinque Terre Sanctuaries” together with the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Health in Volastra, the Sanctuaries of Our Lady of Grace and of Our Lady of Reggio in Vernazza and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Soviore in Monterosso al Mare.
Not reachable by car, but only through some paths , this ancient monastery attracts visitors from all over the world.
- How to get there: reachable only through a mule track from the provincial road 370 – Get directions
- Hours: 6: 30-12.30 and 14: 30-19: 00
- Ticket cost: free
4 – Church of San Giovanni Battista
Photo by Luca Aless. The main church of the village , which dominates it from above, represents a valuable fourteenth- century work , the result of anti-Elamic workers.
It was built in 1340 with the permission of the Bishop of Luni, Antonio Fieschi.
An important and significant overhaul of the entire building was carried out between 1870 and 1871 following a violent earthquake. Specifically: extension of the complex and the reconstruction of the facade in neo-Gothic style , while retaining the fourteenth-century rose window in white Carrara marble .
The two Gothic-style entrances and thesingle lancet windows decorated with zoomorphic and anthropomorphic elements .
The church, with a basilica plan with three naves separated by pointed arches, houses a wooden crucifix by Maragliano, a triptych attributed to the master Benedetto Antelami, marble reliefs from 1530, a valuable eighteenth-century marble pulpit and an Agati mechanical organ from 1851.
- How to get there: 550 meters from the station via Via Colombo – Get directions
- Hours: 7: 30-17: 30
- Ticket cost: free
5 – Church of San Lorenzo
Photo by Davide Papalini. The parish church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is dedicated to the town’s patron saint . Built upstream of the town, the church, in Ligurian-Gothic style , was begun in 1338 by the populations of Manarola and Volastra.
The facade in local sandstone has a portal with a Gothic arch and a bas-relief depicting the Martyrdom of San Lorenzo; just below, a rose window in Carrara marble from 1375 with twelve columns with foliated capitals and an external crown decorated with human and lion heads.
The interior, with a basilica plan with three naves, is Baroque and the central nave is double compared to the side ones.
Detached from the central body of the building, the square-based bell tower built on the remains of an ancient lookout tower for the sighting of Saracen raids.
- How to get there: 20 minutes walk from the station via Via dell’Amore – Get directions
- Hours: 7: 30-17: 30
- Ticket cost: free
6 – Il Borgo
It may seem a bit strange to present “the village” as an attraction to see, but in fact it is. The simple “stroll” through the streets of Riomaggiore is an activity in itself, absolutely not to be missed.
The historic center is spread over two valleys, separated by the small and steep coast of Campione .
The most historic part, dating back to the 13th century, is located in the valley formed by the Rio Maggiore stream, from which the name of the town derives; the newest part of the village (which also includes the station), developed in the 19th century and is located along the Rio Finale valley.
The houses of the village are made like towers, developed in heighton three or four floors, in stone and slate on the roofs, with brightly colored facades .
Two stairways branch off from the historic center which extend towards a couple of observation points that offer magnificent views.
- How to get there: 400 meters from the station via Via Sant’Antonio – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
7 – Torre Guardiola
One of the most panoramic points as well as FAI’s “Place of the Heart”.
The site takes its name from an old fortress used for coastal surveillance to prevent any attacks by the Saracens.
Point of particular naturalistic and landscape value, until 2010 it hosted the Environmental Education Center of the Cinque Terre National Park , a modern structure for welcoming and enhancing the area where there was also a botanical path and an area for bird watching.
It was once one of the best equipped forts in the area, set up immediately after the First World War for the defense of the Maritime Stronghold of La Spezia. Built from 1933 to 1936, it was operational for the entire duration of the conflict, managed first by the Regia Marina, then by Milmart, to finish after 8 September 1943, under the management of RSI and German troops.
- How to get there: 850 meters from the station via the Via dell’Amore – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
8 – Oratorio di San Rocco
Photo by sailko. Next to the castle, it was built in 1480 as a sign of thanks for the end of the plague that struck the inhabitants of Riomaggiore.
The building is small and has simple architectural forms ; on the architrave that surmounts the entrance door are sculpted the effigies of San Rocco, showing the signs of the plague, and of San Sebastiano pierced. Particular note, the ceiling painted in blue . It is a small bare structure, but its strength lies in the fact that it is in an exceptionally panoramic position with respect to the town.
Originally, the Oratory housed the triptych depicting the Virgin with Child and Saints which is today in the Church of S. Giovanni Battista (left aisle).
- How to get there: exactly adjacent to the castle – Get directions
- Hours: 7: 30-18: 30
- Ticket cost: free
9 – Visit and tasting Sciacchetra
Sciacchetra is the very famous wine of the area , the result of a very peculiar agriculture , developed in a difficult natural environment that the willing locals have been able to tame and make the most of.
Numerous wineries offer the opportunity to visit the vineyards on the terraces illustrating the environmental characteristics that have favored the optimal cultivation of the vines , the working phases to obtain the precious sweet wine, from the harvest along the terraced strips overlooking the sea to the drying systems of the grapes. , from vinification to bottling.
The visit can be completed with a tour of the cellar ,thematic insights through videos and multimedia stations and tastings .
- How to get there: 300 meters from Piazza Rio Finale station – Get directions
- Hours: 10: 00-18: 00
- Ticket cost: visit and tasting € 35.00
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours: Tours with wine tasting and snacks
10 – Via dell’Amore – Blue Path
Source: wikipedia. Suggestive and panoramic path overlooking the sea , 800 meters long, dug into the rock between 1926 and 1928, which starts from Riomaggiore and reaches Manarola.
The Via de l’Amuu (in Ligurian) is one of the most important tourist attractions in Liguria .
It is part of the Cinque Terre National Park and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO .
The complete route and the Blue Path, this specific stretch is called Via dell’Amore for its romantic character, its beauty and its breathtaking views.
- How to get there: the stretch from Riomaggiore starts from the train station – Get directions
- Hours: they vary often, check on the municipal website
- Ticket cost: € 5.00
Riomaggiore itinerary in one day
Have breakfast at the Soldani Eliseo heirs Station Bar (€ 3.00) and then walk along the path (SP32) towards the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Montenero . The journey is about 3.5 km long and at a good pace it takes about an hour. Once you reach the destination you can admire the artistic masterpieces housed in the church and, above all, the stupendous panorama that opens up below you at 340 meters above sea level. Back in the village in the late morning, you can relax for a couple of hours on the cobbled beach.
Easy but typical lunch at Tutti Fritti (€ 8.00) and then, to dispose of, walk towards the castle . Enjoy the view from above and don’t forget to visit the nearby oneOratorio di San Rocco : small and simple but delicious.
Then go down to the village. Stroll aimlessly through the narrow alleys of the village : admire the typical colored facades of the houses up close, visit the Church of San Giovanni , browse among the small shops of handicraft products and let yourself be amazed by the unexpected views that open up wonderful glimpses of the sea.
For dinner we suggest Dau Cila (€ 50.00).
One day itinerary at a glance
- Breakfast at the Soldani Eliseo heirs Station Bar
- Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montenero (6: 30-12.30 / 14: 30-19: 00, free)
- Beach
- Lunch at Tutti Fritti
- Castle (interior not open to visitors)
- Oratory of San Rocco (7: 30-18: 30, free)
- Borgo
- Church of San Giovanni (7: 30-17: 30, free)
- Dinner at Dau Cila
Where to eat in Riomaggiore
- Dau Cila : Michelin-starred restaurant where you can enjoy fresh fish dishes accompanied by Ligurian wines of excellent quality.
Average price per person: € 50.00
Address and contacts: via San Giacomo, 65 (Get directions) / tel: 0187 760032 - Tutti Fritti : take away that offers all kinds of fried food, especially fresh fish. To be enjoyed around or sitting on the benches in front of the restaurant.
Average price per person: € 8.00
Address and contacts: via Colombo, 161 (Get directions) / tel: 0187 760010 - Via dell’Amore Restaurant : simple and informal setting where you can eat Ligurian fish dishes.
Average price per person: € 20.00
Address and contacts: Piazza Rio Finale, 8 (Get directions) / tel: 0187 920860
What to do in the evening: nightlife areas and best clubs
The Cinque Terre area is not exactly renowned for being a lively and hectic area. In short, nightlife and nightlife in Liguria certainly cannot be compared to those of the Adriatic Riviera.
Nevertheless, there is no shortage of opportunities to have fun after dinner .
The nightlife of the Riomaggiore area, and of the Cinque Terre more generally, is animated by many wine bars and bars where you can spend a pre or post dinner enjoying aperitifs and cocktails.
However, lovers of discos should not despair; the two most famous are located in the nearby La Spezia and Sestri Levante.
- Bar and Wines A pie de ma : restaurant on a beautiful terrace overlooking the sea that offers its customers exhibitions, tastings and aperitifs, parties with DJ sets, live music evenings.
Address: via dell’Amore, 55 (Get directions) - Bar O’Netto : small but cozy pub-brasserie, ideal for an aperitif or after dinner.
Address: via Mal Borghetto, 4 (Get directions) - Vertical Lounge Bar : very nice place with outdoor tables on the slope of the street, music and a wide choice of drinks and aperitifs.
Address: via Colombo, 76 (Get directions)
Plan your stay in Riomaggiore: info and useful tips
- How to get there: A12 motorway, exit at La Spezia-S.Stefano Magra. The best choice is the train: using the Genoa-Rome railway line, there are numerous regional trains that stop in all the villages of the Cinque Terre
- How to get around : the historic center is closed to the circulation of cars. The best way to get around the village is on foot
- Where to park : in the last 2 km of the road going down towards the town on both sides. Beware of prohibition signs as the last 200 meters are reserved for residents. In the auto-silos near the inhabited center; an electric mini-bus service takes you to the Marina.
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 99.00 per room – see the offers
- What to see in the surrounding area : Manarola, Monterosso, Corniglia, Vernazza, La Spezia
