Corniglia

The only village not on the sea, perched on a 100-meter headland up 382 steps, rewarding visitors with the quietest lanes and terraces overlooking the entire coastline.

Corniglia is the smallest of the five villages (about 150 residents) and the only one not directly on the sea. It is built on a 100-meter-high promontory terrace, surrounded by vineyard terraces. From the station, you must climb the Lardarina steps (382 steps, about 15 minutes, very hot in summer) or take the village minibus (free with the Cinque Terre Card, departing about every 15–20 minutes, with queues in peak season). The village has a single main street, Via Fieschi. From the church square, with the 14th-century Church of San Pietro and its Gothic rose window, walk to the Belvedere di Santa Maria at the end of the street. From there you can see both Manarola to the east and Monterosso to the west, making it one of the most expansive viewpoints in the Cinque Terre. The street has a few small restaurants, a famous gelateria (Alberto Gelateria, known for basil and honey flavors) and a wine bar serving Sciacchetrà, a local dessert wine. With no beach and no ferry stop, Corniglia sees far fewer visitors than the other four villages, making it the best place to experience the Cinque Terre's original tranquility. The Guvano nudist beach below the village has closed due to a landslide. For hiking, Corniglia is the midpoint of the Blue Trail. The 4 km walk west to Vernazza takes about 1.5 hours, descending first and then climbing, passing vineyards and olive groves with superb views. The stretch east to Manarola (about 1 hour, reopened in 2024) requires checking whether it is open. You can also take the high trail above the village, passing the San Bernardino church for a view over the whole village. Plan to stay 1–1.5 hours and combine it with a hike.

Corniglia

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