This almost 800 years old church of Saint John the Baptist in a small alley on the bottom of…read moreMonterosso Al Mare village in UNESCO protected Cinque Terre, Italy was such a treat. The combination of black and white stone looks very dramatic, almost hypnotic, it absolutely captures your attention. Life and death, good and evil, it makes you wonder is it for pure decorative purpose or is it a hint on duality of life. Entrance:free and open to public Time spent:5-10 minutes

The parish church of San Giovanni Battista is located in a small Piazza don Giovanni Minzoni, right…read morenext to Piazza Garibaldi. The church was built between the 13th and 14th century, completed in 1307, and later renovated in Baroque era. The facade features the signature two-tone white and dark serpentine facing, a large rose window of white marble under which is the main portal. An English language brochure explains further details. They also sell a Church calendar inside for those who would like an interesting souvenir and a way to keep up with all the Holy Days. The associated bell tower was originally a watchtower, part of the fortification built by the Republic of Genova in the 13th century. In the 15th century the tower was raised, and partially rebuilt in the 18th after an earthquake. The Church also sustained extensive damage during the 2011 mudslides and I wouldn't have known that by just my brief visit here. It's a testament to the Community regarding their hard working and successful efforts bring their Village back to full strength.

Right next door to San Giovanni Battista is the chapel of the Brotherhood of Death and Prayer:…read moreMortis et Orationis. Dating to the 16th century, it belongs to one of the surviving charitable lay groups created during the Counter-Reformation when the Catholic church, under threat from the spread of Protestantism, decided it needed to clean up its act. Confraternita dei Neri - Fraternity of Blacks - was responsible for the welfare of orphans, widows and victims of shipwreck, and burial of the destitute, and "black" refers to the color of attire they wore in religious processions. The Fraternity is still somewhat active but their services are not in the same demand they once were - which probably accounts for the somewhat "frayed" state of the Church that Gayle and I observed. Entrance is free but donations for restoration are gratefully accepted.

Monterosso is the most developed and spacious of the Cinque Terre towns, and you feel it the moment…read moreyou arrive. The beach here is wide and inviting, lined with rentable loungers and umbrellas that make it perfect for a full beach day -- something the steeper villages just can't offer. It still looks beautiful, but there's a more "bustling seaside resort" vibe compared to the others, which honestly gives it its own charm. Along the water you'll find a few striking historic spots, including a restaurant built inside what looks like an old maritime or defensive structure, plus the well-known St. Francis of Assisi statues watching calmly over the sea. If you head uphill, there's an old monastery (or possibly a convent -- either way, centuries of history live up there), and right nearby is an atmospheric ancient cemetery with some incredible ocean views. It's quiet, peaceful, and feels worlds away from the beach crowds below. Down in the center of town, Monterosso becomes lively again with a ton of shops, bars, and restaurants lined through its narrow streets. It's the best place in Cinque Terre if you want a mix of beach time, sightseeing, and easy access to food or drinks without hiking up or down anything too crazy. Monterosso may be the most industrialized of the five, but it's also one of the easiest and most comfortable to enjoy -- a great home base and a town that grows on you fast.

We stayed in Monterosso for two days while visiting the Cinque Terre and found it to be a beautiful…read morelittle town with tons of restaurants and everything any tourist could want. They're really isn't a bad view to be had. The boardwalk in the newer part of town has hotels, restaurants overlooking the ocean, and plenty of bagnos. The train station, parking lot, and the free beach are all right here. Through the tunnel takes you into the older part of town with tons of shops and lots more restaurants. We explored through here a bit while waiting on dinner reservations but I'm sure we could have spent a lot more time. After the old part of town there is a hill you can climb up to a hotel and restaurant that boasts an amazing view at night. Access to the Blue Trail also starts here for anyone hiking between towns.

Chiesa di San Pietro looks like something straight out of a dramatic fantasy movie --…read moreblack-and-white stripes, jagged cliffs, and the sea exploding around it. It's tiny, ancient, and perched in the most unreal spot imaginable. Step inside for two minutes, soak in the stone arches and quiet, then walk out to the terrace for that jaw-drop view where the ocean basically slaps the rocks below. It's quick, it's iconic, and it's honestly one of the coolest little churches you'll ever stumble into.

This is a small church on top of a hill located on the tip of Porto Venere. The view is…read morebreathtaking! I would love to visit again. It was easy and cheap to get to by bus from where we're staying in La Spezia. Plan your meals accordingly when you visit bec the restaurants are close for siesta. It's nice to spend a day here.

Monterosso has a medieval historical center which lies on the summit of the hill of San Cristoforo…read more You find the old town through the tunnel from the Train Station. The old town is made up of mainly pedestrian cobblestone streets with narrow crooked lanes lined with shops and restaurants and the brightly colored tower houses that you find in the other towns of the Cinque Terre. The other part of Monterosso is the residential district which spreads along the beach of Fegina. During the 12th and 13th centuries there was an increase in population and families began to move down the hill to be closer to a water supply which was a stream that is no longer there. The part of the village, known as Monterosso Vecchio or Old Monterosso has remained practically intact. In Medieval times, many fortifications were built in this village to protect it from pirate attacks. The remains of these can be found today in the old part of Monterosso, with 3 of the original 13 defense towers are still standing. Torre Aurora (Dawn Tower) separates the old part of the town from the new part and is found on a headland. The remains of the castle of Monterosso is found on the hill of San Cristoforo. Today you can see the remains of the walls, three circular towers and a square tower and these are part of the cemetery of the Church of St Francis. Gayle and I enjoyed the hike up here from Town to see for ourselves.

This distinctive church was built in 1318 in the Ligurian Gothic style on the site of a former 11th…read morecentury building. It was built on a cliff overlooking the sea and has an impressive 40 meter high bell tower with an octagonal dome. Gayle and I briefly stopped by after our first stage Cinque Terre hike from Monterosso to Vernazza. Inside the church is a nave and two aisles and the church was widened in the 16th and 17th centuries. Legend says that the church was built because a wooden box containing the bones of St Margaret was found on the beach. The villagers built a church elsewhere to house the relics, but after damaging storms the church was destroyed and the relics were lost. The wooden box then reappeared in the same spot where it was first found. At that point, the current church was built.

This church is found in one of the highest parts of Riomaggiore. Outside of the church is a lovely…read moresquare offering beautiful views of the town and the sea. Gayle and I landed in Riomaggiore by boat and walked up. It you happen to come to this Cinque Terre Village, it's worth your Journey.

From the owner: Un magnifico giardino all'italiana a picco sul mare, un glicine centenario e una collezione di…read moreagrumi rari. Una preziosa chiesa ed un magnifico chiostro in cui si ode solo lo zampillo dell'acqua. La Cervara è uno dei posti più belli al mondo. Oggi, dopo un importante lavoro di recupero, vi si organizzano concerti ed eventi.