Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore is the easternmost of the Cinque Terre, set in the narrow little valley of the rio Maior (now covered), whose course determined the layout of the village. In recent decades, while keeping its original farming and seafaring vocation, it has turned markedly towards tourism, also thanks to the fast connections with La Spezia. We didn't stay long, only a few hours, but enough to enjoy the charm of a unique place.

The first village you come across when leaving La Spezia is Riomaggiore. Developed vertically, the village is crossed by flights of steps and stairways branching out among the houses, packed one against another and painted in the typical Ligurian colours. The building material is local: stone for the walls, slate for the roofs, plaster painted yellow or pink for the facades. Under the main street flows the Rivus Maior torrent, which gives the village its name, the first records of which date back some seven centuries. At Riomaggiore begins the famous Via dell'Amore, a path cut into the rock, sheer above the sea, leading to Manarola, the second village of the Cinque Terre. Walking the romantic little road, now known throughout the world, you admire the splendid landscape, hear the sound of the waves breaking on the rocks, and breathe the unmistakable salt air.

The pleasant position of the path, carved into the rock overhanging the sea, makes the walk a very special nature experience. The feeling of being immersed completely in the landscape was and still is so strong that the inhabitants probably decided to consecrate the Way to the sentiment of love. It is said that in the past it was a refuge for lovers, inspired by the sea in their romantic declarations. Famous poets and painters, bewitched by the spell of this road suspended between sky and sea, found here the inspiration for many of their works. The Via dell'Amore also marks the beginning of a great natural spectacle, the first step towards discovering the environmental, historical and cultural values of a territory preserved in its pristine beauty.