What is the oldest town in the Cinque Terre?

Manarola. The next town on from Riomaggiore is Manarola, thought to be the oldest of the Cinque Terre towns.



Manarola is widely considered the oldest of the five towns in Italy's Cinque Terre, with historical evidence suggesting it was founded in the 12th century. The cornerstone of its high-value church, San Lorenzo, dates back to 1338, serving as a premier testament to the village's long-standing heritage. Manarola is famous for its high-quality "tower houses" built into the dramatic cliffs, and its name is believed to derive from the Latin Magna Rota, referring to a large mill wheel used in the village. In 2026, it remains a high-value destination for travelers seeking the most authentic Ligurian experience, often recognized for its world-class Sciacchetrà wine and the breathtaking Via dell'Amore path that connects it to Riomaggiore. While each of the five towns has its own charm, Manarola’s ancient origins and "postcard-perfect" vertical architecture make it the premier choice for those wanting to walk through the living history of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Starting from north to south, the towns of the Cinque Terre are Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. By train, it takes about five minutes to travel from one village to the next. Or there is a ferry service, which connects all the towns but one, Corniglia.

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Visit some of the villages Choose to visit two or three of the villages, for example Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore. You have to skip Corniglia situated on top of a cliff 100 metres above sea level. If you are limited on time, take the train between the villages.

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5 Towns of Cinque Terre Ranked
  1. Vernazza. Best Village for Couple Travel. ...
  2. Manarola. Best Village for Hikers. ...
  3. Monterossa. Best village for family travel. ...
  4. Riomaggiore. Best Village for Younger and Solo Travelers. ...
  5. Corniglia. Best Village for Mediterranean Views.


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Corniglia is the only one of the five Cinque Terre towns that isn't a fishing town and you need to walk up around 365 steps to get there. That puts most people off and means that Corniglia is the Cinque Terre town with the fewest tourists.

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The easiest village to reach by car is actually Monterosso, which also has the cheapest parking. Manarola and Riomaggiore do have parking lots above their towns, but you will need to walk from there to the center. Corniglia and Vernazza are more difficult to reach by car, due to narrow roads and limited parking space.

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That said, Corniglia is by far the quietest of the Cinque Terre towns. Corniglia is located on top of a hill, far from the sea. While that makes for some seriously stunning views, it makes it harder to go for a swim in the sea and doesn't have the same maritime feeling as the other towns.

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The busiest months are May, June, September, and October; July and August can be less congested (but hotter).

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You can walk the entire route in about six hours, if you take short breaks—although many hikers prefer to spread the route out over a few days at a strolling pace, stopping to enjoy the towns along the way. You can start from either direction (Monterosso, heading south, or Riomaggiore, heading north).

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This town is worth visiting for two to three days. La Spezia is a port city that's located near Cinque Terre. It has a maritime museum and an old town with restaurants and shops. For visitors who choose not to stay in Cinque Terre, it makes a convenient base for exploring the area.

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Shopping and prices The Cinque Terre is not cheap. As everywhere in the world, tourism has raised prices. I often go to the market of La Spezia to shop for food, it's much cheaper than the stores of the villages. In restaurants, you have to expect Western European prices.

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Though it does not happen every year, Liguria and the Cinque Terre, like the rest of Italy, has seen increasingly intense and frequent autumn thunderstorms, with violent wind and heavy rain.

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Overtourism is a growing phenomenon that our own research indicates affects almost 100 destinations around the world so far, but there are few places in Europe where the problem is so clearly visible as Cinque Terre, on Italy's resplendent Ligurian coast.

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Overtourism in a fragile area Fabrizia Pecunia, the mayor of Riomaggiore, came up with the new plan for the 3,215- foot-long path to combat overtourism. Last year, about three million tourists visited Cinque Terre, a fragile national park. In contrast, there are fewer than 4,000 residents left in the area.

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The accommodations are cheaper in La Spezia than if you were to stay in Cinque Terre, and the roads are a lot easier to navigate with luggage! La Spezia makes a great home base for your northern Italy / Cinque Terre adventures!

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And they mean business.

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