Free walking tours in Monterosso al Mare and what to see

Must-sees

Monterosso al Mare is the first of the five Cinque Terre villages if you arrive from the north, and lies within the Cinque Terre National Park. It has two parts separated by the San Cristoforo headland: the old village, with alleys running down to the sea, and Fegina, the more modern area, with the seafront promenade and the railway station. On Piazza Garibaldi is the church of San Giovanni Battista, with a façade striped in white and black and a bell tower that was once a watchtower.

From the old village a path climbs to the Capuchin monastery, with the church of San Francesco and views over both bays. On Fegina beach stands the statue of the Giant, a large figure of Neptune that has become the village's symbol. If you like walking, a trail climbs through woods and terraces to the sanctuary of the Madonna di Soviore, and a coastal path leads to Vernazza, with terraced vineyards above the sea.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free tours in Monterosso. What Civitatis offers are outdoor activities: an e-bike ride through the Cinque Terre and a kayak outing along the coast that lets you see the villages from the water. Many travellers arrive on day trips from La Spezia, Florence or Pisa, but the train linking the five villages makes it easy to get around on your own.

How long to spend

Half a day is enough for the village, the church and the monastery. If you want the beach and the walk to Vernazza, give it a full day. With two or three days you can use Monterosso as a base to explore the rest of the Cinque Terre by train and do a trail or two at a relaxed pace. In summer the village fills up mid-morning with tour groups, so it is worth getting up early.

Where to stay

Staying in Monterosso is convenient because it has a railway station and more flat ground than the other villages. The old village has guesthouses and apartments in old houses, with everything within walking distance. Fegina has hotels along the promenade and the beach, a few steps from the station. A car is impractical, as the road is narrow and parking scarce. Levanto, to the north, has more choice and is a short train ride away.