Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE SANCTUARY WALKS
Each of Cinque Terre's villages is associated with a sanctuary perched high on the cliffsides above the
azure Mediterranean. Reaching these religious retreats used to be part of a hefty Catholic penance, but
these days the walks through terraced vineyards and across view-splayed cliffs are a lot less onerous.
Monterosso to Santuario della Madonna di Soviore
From Via Roma in the village, follow trail 9 up
through forest and past the ruins of an old hexagonal chapel to an ancient paved mule path that leads
to Soviore, Liguria's oldest sanctuary dating from the 11th century. Here you'll find a bar, restaurant
and views as far as Corsica on a clear day.
Vernazza to Santuario della Madonna di Reggio
From underneath Vernazza's railway bridge, fol-
low trail 8 up numerous flights of steps and past 14 sculpted Stations of the Cross to this 11th-century
chapel with a Romanesque facade.
Corniglia to Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie
This sanctuary can be approached from either
Corniglia (on trail 7b) or Vernazza (trail 7), though the latter is better. Branch off the Sentiero Azzurro
and ascend the spectacular Sella Comeneco to the village of San Bernardino, where you'll find the
church with its adored image of Madonna and child above the altar.
Manarola to Santuario della Madonna delle Salute
The pick of all the sanctuary walks is this
breathtaking traverse (trail 6) through Cinque Terre's finest vineyards to a diminutive Romanesque-
meets-Gothic chapel in the tiny village of Volastra.
Riomaggiore to Santuario della Madonna di Montenero
Trail 3 ascends from the top of the village,
up steps and past walled gardens to a restored 18th-century chapel with a frescoed ceiling, which sits
atop an astounding lookout next to the park's new cycling centre.
Mountain Biking
Since 2009 the national park has allowed mountain bikes on some of its paths, though it's
still very much a niche sport. The starting point of most of the paths is the
Santuario della
Madonna di Montenero
, accessible by road or
sentiero
(trail) No 3 above Riomaggiore.
Courses
Arbaspàa
( 0187 76 00 83;
www.arbaspaa.com
;
courses €129)
Prepare Ligurian specialities in a farm-
house near the town of Levanto. Cooking lessons are available on Monday from March to
October.
COOKING
Information
Online information is available at
www.cinqueterre.it
and
www.cinqueterre.com
.