How to Best Enjoy Corniglia, Cinque Terre

Post author:Traveler with a Map
Post published:August 2, 2019
Post category:Blog / Cinque Terre / International Travel / Italy

Corniglia - Cinque Terre

Corniglia is a charming hamlet nestled into a 330- foot high hilltop and surrounded by terraces and vineyards. It lies in the middle of Cinque Terre between Vernazza and Manarola. Because Corniglia lacks an easily accessible beach, it is one of the least visited Cinque Terre towns. However, you can access a beach by descending the 382 steps towards the train station.

If you arrive in Corniglia by train, you’ll need to hike up those stairs into town. This is no easy feat in the summer heat. However, Corniglia is connected to the other villages by a network of trails, so you can get there that way. Because we hiked to Corniglia from Vernazza, we walked directly into the center of town. There was no need for us to climb the stairs.

Corniglia is a tranquil place with a charming main street – Via Fieschi. Via Fieschi basically connects the entire town from the church of San Pietro to the panoramic terrace of Santa Maria. Make sure to walk all the way to the terrace and reward yourself with spectacular views of the rugged Liguri coastline as well as the other Cinque Terre villages. The vistas are amazing!

In the middle of Corniglia is a charming little square Piazzetta Largo Taragio. Here, you will find an 18th century chapel of Saint Catherine as well as a war memorial. The Piazzetta is lined with outdoor cafes, so it’s nice to sit there for a while enjoying a cappuccino or something to eat. After hiking to Corniglia for an hour and a half, it was greatly pleasurable to relax in the square.

We thoroughly enjoyed several hours here, away from the crowds and the noise of other Cinque Terre towns. Corniglia was definitely a tranquil retreat.