Travel Guide Riomaggiore

Founded by the communities of small inland villages in the second half of the 13th century, Riomaggiore is the easternmost village of the Cinque Terre. Along the slopes of the narrow valley of the torrent Major, from which the village takes its name, the houses of Riomaggiore seem to stand shoulder to shoulder, as if to avoid falling. The three-storey, brightly-painted facades of these interlocking houses are linked by narrow staircases, and usually still have two entrances: the one at the back was once used to escape enemies in the event of an attack. Up and down alleyways, where it's easy to lose your sense of direction, lead unexpectedly to small flowering vegetable gardens where lemon trees are ripening. The best view, however, is from the sea. A beautiful parish church and the former fortress, now a cultural center, are well worth a visit. Higher up, the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Montenero, in a panoramic position, is easily reached by comfortable hiking trails. The municipality of Riomaggiore includes two important hamlets. Groppo, located above Manarola, is home to the communal winery run by the Cinque Terre agricultural cooperative (Cantina Sociale); Volastra is a pretty hamlet that has preserved its medieval town planning, and its main resources today are the production of oil and DOC white wine