Vernazza (Corniglia)
Location
Vernazza is one of the villages of the Cinque Terre, located in the province of La Spezia.
Motorway Exit: Motorway A12, Exit Brugnato-Borghetto (30 km from Vernazza).
Train Station: Vernazza (nfo: www.trenitalia.com )
Buses: www.atclaspezia.it
Ferries: in spring and summer months, ferries and boat tours depart daily from Vernazza going to the gulf towns, the other Cinque Terre, the Riviera, Portofino and Genova, weather and sea conditions permitting (info: www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it )
What to see and do
Vernazza is one of the most picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre. It is a member of the club, the Borghi più belli d’Italia (the most beautiful villages in Italy).
The Church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia, built on the rocks overlooking the sea, is one of the oldest churches in Vernazza.
The Tower of the Doria Castle is located above the bay and the small port of Vernazza.
Vernazza, like the other villages of the Cinque Terre, is surrounded by dry stone terraces (muretti a secco), which enclose its vineyards. These famous muretti a secco, built by hard working farmers over the centuries, rise vertically from the sea. The muretti a secco are considered a UNESCO World Heritage.
Vernazza offers hiking excursions through the vineyards and the Mediterranean terrain for everyone. Its many footpaths are well kept by the staff of the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre (www.parconazionale5terre.it).
The Via dei Santuari (the Sanctuary Way), follows the high crest above the villages of the Cinque Terre. Some of the most important sanctuaries which can be found along this path are Soviore and Montenero.
The footpaths of the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre also connect the villages with the Val di Vara and the Gulf of La Spezia.
It is possible to scuba dive in the marine reserve (Area Marina Protetta) of the Cinque Terre.
Corniglia (Vernazza)
Location
Corniglia is one of the villages in the Cinque Terre. It is a small village and it is under the municipality of Vernazza.
Motorway Exit: Motorway A12; Exit Brugnato-Borghetto (35 km from Corniglia).
Train Station: Corniglia (info: www.trenitalia.com )
Buses: www.atclaspezia.it
What to see and do
Corniglia is located in the middle of the Cinque Terre. It is the only village of the Cinque Terre which is not built directly on the sea, but on a cliff above the sea.
Its architecture is closer to that of a rural inland village than that of a coastal village.
Corniglia is connected to its train station by a three hundred step footpath.
The other Cinque Terre villages can be reached by train or by the ecological bus run by the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre (free with a daily park access ticket).
Corniglia is connected to the other villages of the Cinque Terre by well kept footpaths, maintained by the park staff. It is possible to reach the Via dei Santuari (the Sanctuary Way), the Vara Valley and the Gulf of La Spezia from these footpaths.
Scuba diving and other water sports can be practiced in the waters of the Cinque Terre Marine Reserve, Area Marina Protetta (www.parconazionale5terre.it).
This sunny land produces excellent wines, such as the famous white wine, Sciacchetrà.
