Vernazza, Cinque Terre
Stroll along the main street and the harbor area
The town’s Main Street, Via Roma, lined with shops and restaurants will take you from the train station to the central square and the harbor area. Stop by some of the shops and check out the various souvenirs, beautiful linen clothes, and local food items. Lemony fragrance permeates the air as many shops sell lemon scented soaps and other products here. There are multiple places to sit down and enjoy a cappuccino, a drink or a meal while people watching at the same time.
Once in the center, walk to the end of the peer to get a gorgeous view of the town of Vernazza. If you’re here in the evening, sit down on one of the benches in the piazza and enjoy a gelato and the music performed by local buskers. It’s such a pleasant place to be, indeed.
Do some sightseeing
While there aren’t any great museums or monuments to see in Vernazza, there are a few interesting sites worth a stop. One of them is the church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia with a beautifully tiled bell tower. The church was originally built in the 11th century and adorns the main square and the harbor area.
Castello Doria is another attraction in Vernazza. Climb to the watchtower for beautiful views of the city and the Liguri coast. It’s well worth the €1.50 you’ll pay to enter.
Catch beautiful views of Vernazza
While you get beautiful views of Vernazza from the Castello as well as the harbor, there are a few other places for amazing pictures. Hike up for a few minutes along the trail to Monterosso or to Corniglia and you’ll be rewarded by spectacular views of the town.
Go for a swim
While Cinque Terre is not known for beautiful sandy beaches, Vernazza does offer a small stretch of sand right off the main piazza. There is also a stretch of big rocks north of the beach area which can certainly serve for sunbathing. The colorful boats in the harbor, the pastel buildings, and the green terraces make for a spectacular setting. The sea bottom here is pretty rocky but the water feels nice on a hot sunny day.
Enjoy a pasta dish or an aperitivo
Eating anywhere in Italy is an immensely pleasurable experience and such it is in Vernazza as well. You will find a multitude of restaurants serving pasta and pizza dishes and whichever place you choose, you won’t go wrong. Seafood dominates the cuisine here, so if you are a seafood lover, you’ll be in paradise here. Unfortunately, I have a shellfish allergy, so my palate must be satisfied with other options, which unsurprisingly, isn’t hard to accomplish.
When you’re done with all the walking around, it’s fun to sit down and enjoy an Italian happy hour. Aperitivo, or a pre-dinner drink , is frequently served with a few snacks. We sat down at the Blue Marlin and were given a bowl of olives, fava beans, and Doritos. While many tourists order a beer, Spritz is the drink of choice for the locals. It’s a refreshing Prosecco based drink with a slice of orange. It’s certainly delicious.
