Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Oppositetheoratory,noticehowstepsleadsteeplydownonViaallaMarinatoCorniglia's
non-beach.It'safive-minutepavedclimbtosunningrocks,ashower,andasmalldeck(with
a treacherous entry into the water). From the square, continue up Via Fieschi to the...
End-of-Town Viewpoint:
The Santa Maria Belvedere, named for a church that once
stood here, marks the scenic end of Corniglia. This is a super picnic spot. From here, look
high to the west, where the village and sanctuary of San Bernardino straddle a ridge (a good
starting point for a hike; accessible by shuttle bus from Monterosso or a long uphill hike
from Vernazza). Below is the tortuous harbor, where locals hoist their boats onto the cruel
rocks.
Beaches
This hilltop town has rocky sea access below its train station (toward Manarola). Once a
beach, it's all been washed away and offers no services. Look for signs that say
al mare
or
Marina.
Atrailleadsfromthetowncentersteeplydowntosunningrocksontheclosestthing
Corniglia has to a beach (with a shower).
The infamous
Guvano beach
(a bit along the coast toward Vernazza) is now essentially
closed down. Guvano was created by an 1893 landslide that cost the village a third of its
farmland. Notorious throughout Italy as a nude beach, Guvano was accessed via an unused
traintunnelandattractedvisitorswithanappetitefordruguse.Nowthetunnelisclosed,and
the national park wants people to keep their clothes on and forget about Guvano.
(€1 = about $1.30, country code: 39)
Perched high above the sea on a hilltop, Corniglia has plenty of private rooms. To get to the
town from the station, catch the shuttle bus or make the 15-minute uphill hike. The town is
riddled with humble places that charge too much (generally Db-€65) and have meager busi-
ness skills and a limited ability to converse with tourists—so it's almost never full.
$$ Cristiana Ricci
is an exception to the rule. She communicates well and is reliable,
renting foursmall, clean, andpeaceful rooms—two with kitchens andonewith aterrace and
sweeping view—just inland from the bus stop (Db-€60-70, Qb-€90, €10/day less when you
stay 2 or more nights, free Internet access, check in at the Pan e Vin bar at Via Fieschi 123,
mobile 338-937-6547,
cri_affittacamere@virgilio.it
)
. Her mom rents a big, modern apart-
ment (€90 for 2-4 people).
