Soggiorna
Riomaggiore is the southernmost village of the Cinque Terre and the first you meet coming from La Spezia. Its brightly painted houses are built vertically along the valley of a stream, between two terraced hills that run down to the sea.
A village born at the mouth of a stream
The first records date from 1239, when the people of the Carpena area swore allegiance to Genoa. In 1251 the inhabitants of the small hamlets halfway up the slope decided to move down to the mouth of the stream, the "rio", and founded the village. In the 19th century Riomaggiore had about 3,000 inhabitants and inspired the Macchiaioli painter Telemaco Signorini.
What to see
- The vertical houses: the most recognisable view of the village, between the main street that follows the stream and the little harbour.
- The church of San Giovanni Battista, from 1340, with a basilica plan and two Gothic doorways. The neo-Gothic façade has a Carrara marble rose window; inside are a wooden crucifix by Maragliano and a triptych of the Madonna and Child with Saints Rocco and Sebastian.
- The oratories: Santa Maria Assunta (1500), Sant'Antonio Abate and San Rocco.
- The castle, built between the 13th and 16th centuries and now used for events and conferences, above the upper part of the village.
- The sanctuary of the Madonna di Montenero, above the village, which holds the image of the Assumption and has wide views over the village and the sea.
The Via dell'Amore and the trails
The Via dell'Amore, the path high above the sea that leads to Manarola in about 30 minutes, starts in Riomaggiore. It is now open by reservation and one-way, from Riomaggiore to Manarola; you need the Cinque Terre Card and a booking, entries are every 15 minutes and no more than 100 people are admitted at a time. Until 24 October 2026 it is open from 9 am to 9 pm, from 26 October from 9 am to 6 pm. Everything is in the Via dell'Amore guide.
Riomaggiore is also the starting point of the Sentiero Azzurro towards Monterosso: 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, and La Spezia Centrale is a few minutes away. It is the simplest way. Tickets and the Cinque Terre Card are covered in the Cinque Terre Card guide.
- By boat: in the warm season Riomaggiore is a stop on the Cinque Terre inner boat line.
- By car: there are very few spaces and we have not found current official rates, so we give no figures. It is best to leave the car in La Spezia and take the train: see how to get to the Cinque Terre and where to park.
Tips
- Book the Via dell'Amore before going down into the village, especially at weekends and on bank-holiday bridges: entries are limited.
- The village is steep and full of steps: wear comfortable shoes and travel light if you come by train.
- Manarola is the next stop: the Via dell'Amore reaches it on foot in half an hour, the train in a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Riomaggiore?
By train, on the regional services between Levanto and La Spezia that stop in the village. By car there are very few spaces: better to leave it in La Spezia.
What to see in Riomaggiore?
The colourful vertical houses, the church of San Giovanni Battista, the castle, the Montenero sanctuary and the start of the Via dell'Amore.
Is the Via dell'Amore open?
Yes, by reservation and with the Cinque Terre Card, one-way from Riomaggiore to Manarola, in about 30 minutes.
