Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This is a resort with a few cars and lots of hotels, rentable beach umbrellas, crowds, and
a little more late-night action than the neighboring towns. Monterosso al Mare—the only
Cinque Terre town built on flat land—has two parts: A new town (called Fegina) with a
parking lot, train station, and TI; and an old town (Centro Storico), which cradles Old World
charm in its small, crooked lanes. In the old town, you'll find hole-in-the-wall shops, pastel
townscapes, and a new generation of creative small-businesspeople eager to keep their visit-
ors happy.
A pedestrian tunnel connects the old with the new—but take a small detour around the
point for a nicer walk. It offers a close-up view of two sights: a 16th-century lookout tower,
built after the last serious pirate raid in 1545; and a Nazi “pillbox,” a small, low concrete
bunker where gunners hid. (During World War II, nearby La Spezia was an important Axis
naval base, and Monterosso was bombed while the Germans were here.)
Strolling the waterfront promenade, you can pick out each of the Cinque Terre towns
decorating the coast. After dark, they sparkle. Monterosso is the most enjoyable of the five
for young travelers wanting to connect with others looking for a little evening action. Even
so, Monterosso is not a full-blown Portofino-style resort—and locals appreciate quiet, sens-
itive guests.
Monterosso sustained serious damage in the 2011 flood, but within just a few months, it
wasbackupandrunningatnearly100percent.Walkingthroughthetowntoday,you'llhave
to know where to look to find evidence of the devastation. Big grates on the six roads cover
thehistoriccanals(whichdrainrunofffromthesurroundinghillsintothesea),andthesound
ofrushingwater reassures townsfolkthat thestreams areflowingunimpeded below.Theold
town is filled with newly furnished and equipped shops and restaurants, and photos on walls
commemorate the historic deluge. But for the most part, the town is moving on—and eager
to welcome visitors.
Tourist Information
The TI Proloco is next to the train station (April-Oct daily 9:00-19:00, closed Nov-March,
exit station and go left a few doors, tel. 0187-817-506,
www.prolocomonterosso.it
)
. If you
arrive late on a summer day, the old town's Internet café is helpful with tourist information
(see later).
