Walk through Monterosso and discover its wonderful landscape. Its peculiarity lies in being divided in two by a promontory that crosses the city. The two parts, in fact, are easily distinguishable in: the residential area with the station on one side and the historical and ancient part on the other. Both areas are rich in attractions and beauties that you absolutely cannot miss

Monterosso is the largest and most populous of the villages of the Cinque Terre. In fact, the territory appears less rugged and mountainous and has been inhabited since ancient times. According to some sources, the village developed around the Burranco stream in the 11th century. In fact, the inhabitants of Albereto settled in this area, a town destroyed by the Lombards around 600.
Perfectly nestled in the center of the gulf that rises in the shadow of Punta Mesco, Monterosso is today protected by an artificial reef that protects the sandy coast from the progress of the waves. Monterosso is in fact the only one of the Cinque Terre to be able to boast a sandy beach, ideal for those who love to indulge in a moment of quick and easy relaxation.
With the other villages, however, it shares that timeless charm of the characteristic colorful houses, the alleys that tell of a tradition linked to the sea and the scenic dark rock cliffs that plunge straight into the sea.

If these places fascinate you, you can visit Monterosso with one of our tours in Liguria:

⇒Trekking stanziale in Liguria

⇒A spasso per la Liguria: trekking Cinque Terre e Portofino

What to see in Monterosso

Despite its small size, walking through Monterosso is easy to come surrounded by all the beauties that can be found in the streets and alleys of the city.
Why not decide to spend a carefree day to discover the beauties of this fascinating village in Liguria? If you want to spend a day in Monterosso, we have prepared a list of things to see and visit in peace:

  • Church of San Giovanni Battista
  • Church of San Francesco with the Capuchin convent
  • Statua del Gigante

And now let's set off together to discover the most identifying places in Monterosso!

Church of San Giovanni Battista

Among these, we point out the beautiful Church of San Giovanni Battista. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, it represents the purest Genoese Gothic style.  This is thanks to the facade made with the characteristic horizontal stripes in black and white marble and thanks to the marble rosette placed above the portal. Moreover, inside this church it is possible to admire numerous works of the school of Luca Cambiaso.

Church of San Francesco with the Capuchin convent

looking up towards the slope of the hill of San Cristoforo, you can admire the Church of San Francesco with the Capuchin convent. Built in 1620, this building is entirely in Gothic style and decorated with the typical horizontal black and white lines. The convent also has a small vegetable garden is an impressive "thinkhouse" from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the entire gulf. Finally, in the church and convent you can admire a large number of works of art by famous artists including Bernardo Castello, Antonio Van Dyck and Luca Cambiaso.

State of the Giant

Walking through Monterosso and reaching the end of the small port you can admire the Statue of the Giant.
Made in 1910 in iron and reinforced concrete, it represents a giant holding a large shell.
Despite its large dimensions, unfortunately, following the bombings of 1943, the statue appears deeply damaged.

What to do in Monterosso - the Slow Active Tours proposal

Once you have discovered the wonders hidden among the streets of Agrigento, the time has come to get to the heart of the sounds and smells of this ancient village. 
Among the many activities that can be done in the wonderful Ligurian territory, those preferred by many tourists are the excursions. In fact, it is possible to walk many trekking routes in Monterosso and reach magical and heavenly places. The most important and well known route is the one that leads to Punta Mesco. A simple path that will take you to admire the abandoned lighthouse. From here you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the sunset.

If you want to relax, there is nothing better than stopping at the beach of Monterosso, the largest of the Cinque Terre. Here you can admire the only beach entirely made of sand, enjoy the wonderful landscape and take a swim in the crystal clear waters.

  • Sport and relaxation on the beach

    One of the characteristics of Levanto are the long beaches of the coast. In fact, unlike the usual Ligurian beaches, that of Levanto is a sandy beach. Here you can spend a quiet afternoon walking along the seafront or relaxing sunbathing in one of the establishments present. The Moneglia beach, in addition to being wonderfully set in the Ligurian promontory, is also an ideal place for those who want to indulge in a bit of relaxation and for families who want to spend a few days in peace. But also for those who simply love walking along the seafront and having a bite to eat while watching the sun set. In this way, walking around Moneglia, whether in the city or by the sea, becomes a more than pleasant activity.

  • Discover the beautiful historic center

    Walking through Levanto and its historic center you will realize that one of the most evocative things are the small streets full of small artisans' workshops and little shops selling all the typical products of Liguria.

  • Cinque Terre walking tour

    If you want to spend a more engaging holiday, you can't miss the wonderful trekking routes of Monterosso. In fact, numerous paths suitable for every type of training start from this city.
    In the shadow of the characteristic and picturesque houses of Monterosso, an incredible journey on foot begins that we at Slow Active Tours propose to discover the wonderful and exciting views that the Ligurian Riviera offers

Festivals and Popular celebrations in Monterosso

The numerous traditional festivals and rites enrich the village, making it lively and unique.
The Lemon Festival takes place every year on August 19th. On this occasion the village of Monterosso is filled with themed decorations and stands that sell not only lemons, but also any other dish that contains them. You will find, in fact, lemon cakes, jams, sweets and typical recipes that include one of the most delicious foods of the Cinque Terre.
The Corpus Christi festival takes place every year in June. During this day the streets of Monterosso are strewn with images created with flower petals that indicate the road that The procession will follow. This is one of the most evocative festivals of the village.
The Festival of fried anchovy takes place every year on the third Saturday of June. During this day you can find many stands selling local products. From the early morning you can admire the famous anchovies of Monterosso that are fried in the typical pan shaped like fish. You can eat the with a delicious glass of white wine of the Cinque Terre.
The Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption takes place every year on August 14th. On the occasion of this anniversary, there is a small pilgrimage from the Oratory of Santa Croce to the Shrine of Our Lady of Soviore. Finally, in the evening, the celebration ends with a wonderful fireworks display.
The Wine Festival takes place every year on the last week of September. On this occasion are set up numerous stands throughout the village where you can taste all the most famous varieties of Ligurian wine.

Typical dishes of Monterosso

Walking through Monterosso and its streets you can find many restaurants and places that offer many local dishes.The local dish par excellence of Monterosso is the anchovy. 
The pan du ma, in the Ligurian dialect "pane del mare" it is an essential element of the local cuisine which is linked to a tradition that the inhabitants of Monterosso have handed down for generations. According to legend, in fact, a beautiful and vain Constellation shone in the sky, so vain that rival stars caused it to be kicked out of the sky and fall into the sea. These stars, which ended up in the sea right in Monterosso, were called anchovies.
For those with a sweet tooth there is the inevitable Torta Monterossina, a true local specialty! A perfect balance between the classic ingredients, to which apricot jam is added.

Eating and Drinking in Monterosso

Here are some suggestions from the area:

Gastronomy San Martino in San Martino, 3. A small and cozy place that encloses a delicious cuisine. The few dishes on the menu are part of the tradition and are cooked with immense skill. Particularly recommended are the first dishes and the sea salad.
Enoteca da Eliseo in Piazza Matteotti, 3. Located in a very characteristic and charming square, the wine bar Eliseo offers a wide wine list and a quality aperitif. The owner has a note of merit, welcoming and helpful, she puts everyone at ease. Recommended for those who love to drink wine and listen to live music
Il Bocconcino in Via Fegina, 52. Simple and nice place, especially suitable for fried fish lovers. In fact, here at Bocconcino you can choose your favorite type of fish and this will be fried at the moment and placed in a nice walking cone or in a "beach kit" to be able to eat it by the sea.

So what are you waiting for? Get your stuff ready and off you go!