Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Corniglia; 2/hour). If you're driving, be aware that only residents can park on the main road
between the recommended Villa Cecio and the point where the steep switchback staircase
meets the road. Beyond that area, parking is €1.50 per hour.
Welcome to Corniglia
We'll explore this tiny town—population 240—and end at a scenic viewpoint.
•
Begin near the bus stop, located at a...
Town Square:
The gateway to this community is “Ciappà” square, with an ATM, phone
booth, old wine press, and bus stop. The Cinque Terre's designation as a national park
sparked a revitalization of the town. Corniglia's young generation is more likely now to stay
put, rather than migrate into big cities the way locals did in the past.
•
Lookforthearrowpointingtothecenter
(centro)
.StrollthespineofCorniglia,ViaFieschi.
In the fall, the smell of grapes (on their way to becoming wine) wafts from busy cellars.
Along this main street, you'll see...
Corniglia's Enticing Shops: Alberto's Gelateria
dishes up the best homemade gelato
in town. Before ordering, get a free taste of Alberto's
miele di Corniglia,
made from local
honey. His local lemon slush takes pucker to new heights.
Enoteca il Pirun
—named for
a type of oddly shaped old-fashioned wine pitcher designed to aerate the wine and give
the alcohol more kick—is located in a cool cantina at Via Fieschi 115. Sample some local
wines (generally free for small tastes). If you buy a bottle, they may gift you with a souvenir
bib. In the
Butiega
shop at Via Fieschi 142, Vincenzo sells organic local specialties (daily
8:00-19:30). For picnickers, they offer €4 made-to-order ham-and-cheese sandwiches and a
fun €5
antipasti misti
to go. (There are good places to picnic farther along on this walk.)
•
Following Via Fieschi, you'll end up at the...
MainSquare:
OnLargoTaragio,tablesfromtwobarsandatrattoriaspillaroundaWWI
memorial and the town's old well. It once piped in natural spring water from the hillside to
locals living without plumbing. What looks like a church is the Oratory of Santa Caterina.
(An oratory is a kind of a spiritual clubhouse for a service group doing social work in the
hind the oratory, you'll find a clearing that local children have made into a soccer field. The
stone benches and viewpoint make this a peaceful place for a picnic (less crowded than the
end-of-town viewpoint, described below).
