Events

May

The Lemon Feast, in Monterosso al Mare

The Lemon Feast is an annual event held on the Saturday preceding Ascension Sunday, celebrated with a contest of the biggest local lemon, a contest of shop windows decorated with the most beautiful lemons, as well as live music throughout the day.

June

Corpus Christi in Monterosso al Mare
Celebrated yearly on the second Sunday after Penacost. During the afternoon, the streets and alleyways of the historic center are ornately decorated with lovely designs all created by numerous colorful flower petals on which the evening procession crosses over.

August

Fireworks in Monterosso al Mare
A spectacle of lights set off from the beach over the sea.

September

Band Festival in Monterosso al Mare
A musical event in which bands from all over Italy participate.
Walnut Tournament in Monterosso al Mare
Traditional game recovered from days long gone. It is played in the streets of the historic center.
The Salted Anchovy and Olive Oil Feast in Monterosso al Mare
Celebrated each year over the second weekend of September.

Activities

The only true way to enjoy the Cinque Terre at its best is by foot. On the contrary, by foot or by train, otherwise by foot and by boat.
The Genoa - La Spezia line stops in all the villages along the coast and the boats make regular shuttle runs between La Spezia, Lerici, Portovenere, Levanto and Sestri Levante.
And then by foot, through the Mediterranean bush, between heaven and sea.
In fact, the zone of the Cinque Terre is crossed by a knitted mesh of footpaths. The coastal footpath links all five villages, allowing you to be able to hike from the first village to the last village in five hours. Therefore, it could also be ideal to do a single hike or perhaps the more binding along the crest or towards the Sanctuaries: routes or footpaths are numerous, delightful and interesting; they which give a general idea of the area and also offer a brief insight into its exceptional cultural and natural beauty

Diving

The ‘Panetone’

The dive begins in the first inlet of the promontory 'Punta of Montenero' reached by leaving Riomaggiore. You descend the pebbly soundings to approximate depth of 9 meters, then following the wall towards the east, continue to descend until reaching a rocky pinnacle 3 meters in height and completely covered by gorgonia polychromy. Surpassing the rocky protrusions continue by crossing a narrow strip of sand parallel to the coast. After a few meters, you reach the westerly wall of the sea bed, 'Secca of the Panettone', thus named for its form and found at a sea bed of 35 meters. From here ascend until the crown place at -25. This sea bed, rich with gorges and cracks where you may encounter a number of sea creatures. Continuing to journey over the sea bed clockwise, the sounding gradually ascends until meeting the point of climbing where a rocky wall is covered by sponge and a numerous other organisms and crustaceans. A slow ascent to the surface is recommended.

The Lover’s Way (La Via dell’Amore)

Submerge under the underwater telecamera of Batteria Racchia to a deposit sea bed of 15 meters, perpendicularly following the coast and the profile descends gradually in the sea bed. Attaining 18 meters begin a quick scarp that in a short time leads to a sea bed at a rocky wall of lobsters, characterized by numerous overhanging gorgonia. Beginning the reconnaissance of the sea bed clockwise, you shortly find a muddy sea bead at approximately 32 meters depth. Here you are able to admire along the wall which emerges from the sea bed various lobsters who peep out from the countless gorges. Continuing the route, come to a depth of about 28 meters where it is possible to encounter some nice size 'astici' and the dens of many other creatures. At around 10 meters while ascending toward the surface and returning toward the departure point, it is recommended to attentively check the gorges in the rocks which are frequently occupied by beautiful, exemplary 'musdea' and by some 'cerniotta'.

The Landslide of Corniglia (La Franata di Corniglia)

Descend down a 'cave' just outside the marine of Corniglia. The dive in transparent water is quite tranquil. The maximum depth being 18 meters. Numerous gorges along the 'cave' offer refugee to curious moray and huge sea-eels, small lobsters and king mullets. During the dive you may also observe, photograph and film with the underwater telecamera. Perhaps capturing shots of the lively peachick damsels frantically swimming in search of food, peevish and worried about monstorous beings entering his own particular territory. Under water coming in contact suddenly and unexpectedly with menacing things. In the small, sandy clear setting between multitudes of sea bed you can admire tenaciously fixtures of the sea bed thanks to their byssus resistance. Three big exemplary of Pinna Nobilis covered by colourful sponges. Even omnipresent thrush abundantly frequent this place of emersion offering sub-photographers their gaudy livery for unforgettable instances.

Fishing

The Sea around the Cinque Terre offers a perfect environment for a large variety of fish which grow abundantly.

The most unique by far would be the anchovies unmistakeable for their bright grey colour. Their fishing is done by the technique of using a night fishing light 'lampara' in sea beds not far from Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

In the morning, the village squares are full of women chatting and gossiping as they sell fish from fish stalls.

Here, fishing techniques are learnt early in life. The "fiocina" (trident) is a common tool used to rummage amongst the black rocks. The long and complicated preparation of the "palamiti" fishing tackle, fitted with hundreds of fish hooks, has always been a communal and enjoyable event.

Until the beginning of this century, most of the villagers earned their living from the sea. This harsh but fruitful sea was not only the basis of their commerce but also the source of their staple diet.

Today, the number of professional fishermen has substantially dropped, due partly to the availability of other forms of work and to over-fishing in the past. However, the passion for fishing is still alive, and today many local people take their fishing rods, bait and nets and fish from piers, or jump in a boat and lazily fish close to the shore.

From May to October the sea in front of the Cinque Terre is full of seasonal fisherman and people fishing for sardines and anchovies.

Parks

The Cinque Terre National Park (Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre)

The Cinque Terre National Park, beginning eastward at the coast of Tramonti and limited westward by the village of Monterosso, was founded as an instrument to promote and safeguard the territory of the Cinque Terre, an area that has been profoundly modified both geographically and morphologically by the man's hard work throughout the centuries.
The early inhabitants of the Cinque Terre, in fact, substituted the natural flora and physiognomy of the steep cliffed area with a tight network of terraces supported by approximately 6,729 kilometres of dry stone walls in order to plant grape vines.
The Cinque Terre National Park intends to recuperate and preserve these amazing examples of local architecture that are rich in cultural, environmental, local and historic value by maintaining the cultivation of grape vines, the only human activity that could possibly conserve this terrain which is already considered a 'Patrimony of Mankind' as well as guaranteeing the continuation of local production of wines that have been famous for centuries such as the fragrant after-dinner wine Sciacchetrà.

Cinque Terre National Marine Park (Area Marina Protetta delle Cinque Terre)

The area that constitutes the Cinque Terre natural marine reserve stretches out in front of the five villages of the Cinque Terre, limited by the Punta Mesco at west and by the Capo Montenero at east.
This institution was created to preserve the biodiversity and the natural habitat of the fauna by regulating activities within its limits.
Along the enchanting coastline of the Cinque Terre you can find rocky cliffs, as well as numerous reefs and isolated submerged rocky masses that are populated by numerous gorgonia (sea fans) and by Posidonia Oceanica, a sea plant that on the sea floor of the Cinque Terre forms extremely important fields that serve as safe spots for refuge and reproduction for innumerable organisms.
The sheer cliffs of the Punta Mesco and the Capo Montenegro are the richest in sea life as well as hosting the rarest species.
The waters of the Cinque Terre Natural Marine Park are also included in the zone designated as a sanctuary for cetaceans. Therefore the presence of whales and dolphins has also been confirmed.

Information taken from www.cinqueterre.it