Soggiorna
Monterosso al Mare is the westernmost of the five Cinque Terre villages and the only one with a real beach, long and wide. That is why it is often the base for people who want to combine the sea with visiting the villages. The town has two faces: the old town, with its narrow lanes, and Fegina, the district along the beach.
A village of the sea and of fortifications
The first historical records date from 1201, when the lords of Lagneto signed an agreement with Genoa. In 1214 the community of Monterosso was born and the first fortifications were built against Saracen raids. The poet Eugenio Montale, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1975, described it as a "rocky and austere village, a refuge of fishermen and farmers".
What to see
- The old town: narrow lanes and brightly coloured medieval houses, close to the church and the walls.
- The church of San Giovanni Battista, from 1220, in the Genoese Gothic style, with a two-tone striped façade and a bell tower raised in 1400.
- The church of Sant'Antonio del Mesco, from 1335, and the Capuchin convent, from the 17th century.
- The walls and the remains of the castle, with two towers, part of the village's defensive system, and the Torre Aurora on the cliff.
- The Giant, the great reinforced-concrete statue of Neptune on the cliff at Fegina, about 14 metres tall. It was made in 1910 to decorate Villa Pastine, the home of a family who had returned from Argentina; bombing in the Second World War and the sea have mutilated it, and a restoration was completed in 2022.
- Fegina and the beach: the more modern district along the sea, linked to the old town by the promenade and a pedestrian tunnel.
The trails
Monterosso is the northern end of the Sentiero Azzurro: heading south you walk to Vernazza, and in all to Riomaggiore. The stretches are paid and are walked with the Trekking or Train Cinque Terre Card; details and open stretches are in the Sentiero Azzurro guide. Check the trail status on the Park's website before setting out, because landslides and works close them for long periods.
How to get there
- By train: the station is in the village, on the Levanto–La Spezia line. Monterosso is the first stop coming from Levanto. Tickets and cards are covered in the Cinque Terre Card guide.
- By boat: Monterosso is the terminus of the Cinque Terre inner boat line, with spring and summer services to Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
- By car: it is the village with the most spaces, but they are paid. At Loreto, near the old town, there are 160 spaces; at Fegina, near the beaches, 270, public toilets included. From 26 March to 1 November 2026 they cost 3 euros an hour and 30 euros for 24 hours. From the third to the seventh day of parking it is 12 euros per 24 hours.
Full details, with the other villages, in the guide to how to get to the Cinque Terre and where to park.
Tips
- If you want the sea, choose Fegina: that is where the beach and the biggest car parks are.
- The old town is quieter in the evening: once the day visitors have gone, the lanes belong to the village again.
- Start the Sentiero Azzurro from Monterosso and come back by train from Vernazza: that way you do not walk the same road twice.
Frequently asked questions
Does Monterosso have a beach?
Yes, it is the only one of the five villages with a wide beach, at Fegina and in front of the old town.
Where do you park in Monterosso?
At the Loreto (160 spaces) and Fegina (270 spaces) car parks, at 3 euros an hour or 30 euros for 24 hours from 26 March to 1 November 2026.
What to see in Monterosso?
The old town, the church of San Giovanni Battista, the walls and the Torre Aurora, the Giant and the beach at Fegina.