The origin of the name Vernazza derives from the Latin adjective verna, which can be translated as "indigenous" or "of the place" while geographically, coming from the west, it is the second of the towns that make up the Cinque Terre.
Its territory is characterized by the typical terraces for the cultivation of vines, a morphological style that, according to an estimate, is developed for over 7,000 km of dry stone walls, typical of the Ligurian coasts.
The area is characterised by the presence of several hiking trails that serve as a connection between the towns of the Cinque Terre, the forest trail (marked with the number 507 by the CAI) that crosses the hamlet of Casella - in the municipality of Riccò del Golfo di Spezia - and the Sella della Cigoletta that connects the coast with the middle and lower Vara valley.
The village, which grew along the Vernazzola stream (now covered) which constitutes its central artery, has an exceptionally intact urban fabric, divided into a series of alleys and steep stairways at the top of which, at an altitude of 325 metres above sea level, is the sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Reggio.
The combination of its natural and historical aspects make it one of the villages included in the circuit of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
The origins of the village of Corniglia date back to Roman times and in fact its name probably derives from Gens Cornelia , the family that owned the land, while from a geographical point of view this location is in a central position with respect to the other Cinque Terre.
It differs from the other villages of the Cinque Terre because it is the only village that does not directly overlook the sea, as it is positioned on the top of a promontory about ninety meters high and surrounded by vineyards placed on characteristic "band" terraces, except for the side facing the sea.
To reach Corniglia from its train station you have to climb a long staircase called Lardarina, consisting of 33 flights of stairs with 382 steps, or walk along the winding Via alla Stazione. From Vernazza you can instead reach it by following the path that climbs through crops and Mediterranean scrub to Prevo (208 m) and then pass the Guvano landslide and the Rio della Groppa before descending to Corniglia.
Manarola, like the other Cinque Terre, is squeezed between the Ligurian Sea and the steep mountain range that branches off from the Apennines near Monte Zatta and descends in a south-east direction, forming a watershed between the Val di Vara and the coastal area.
The village is located in the final stretch of the Groppo torrent valley and its origins derive from the migration of populations from the Val di Vara and the Roman settlement of Volastra who decided to move towards the sea in order to exploit its resources. Its name derives from the Latin Manium arula , "small temple dedicated to the Mani".
The colorful houses, made up of typical Genoese tower-houses, overlook one another on the main street, created by covering the watercourse. The town then climbs up the rocky ridge that juts out into the sea, creating a network of narrow alleys that run parallel on multiple levels connected by irregular slate stairways.
After Corniglia, Manarola is the other smallest municipality in the Cinque Terre area.
Riomaggiore is squeezed between the Ligurian Sea and the steep mountain range that separates from the Apennines near Mount Zatta. The historic center, whose original nucleus dates back to the 13th century, is located in the valley of the Rio Maggiore stream, the ancient Rivus Major from which the village takes its name.
The town is made up of several parallel orders of Genoese tower-houses that follow the steep course of the stream, while the new Station district, developed in the second half of the 19th century with the arrival of the Genoa-Pisa railway, is located in the adjacent valley of the Rio Finale stream.
The two valleys on which the town extends are separated by the steep coast of Campiòne, on whose lower part stands the castle of the village. The valley of Rio Maggiore is surmounted by Mount Verugola, whose three peaks, depicted in the municipal coat of arms, have always represented the symbol of the village.
