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Placed on a steep promontory, with two exclusive small beaches
at its sides, Corniglia can be reached from the railway through
a long flight of steps leading to the village (an elevator is
being built).
This village stands sharply out from the others in Cinque Terre.
As a matter of fact it has a marked agricultural vocation and
is classified as a rural village instead of a maritime one.
It is situated on a hundred-metre high promontory sheer above
the sea, and it is surrounded on the three internal sides by
terraced vineyards. Once the sea could only be reached by a
long stair made of 370 steps, the Lardarina, now it can be reached
also by a road passing near the railway, which runs a little
above the beach, the Guvano Spiaggione of the village.
The exterior structure of
houses recalls the rural areas of the inland: they are usually
one story high and only recently have had upper stories added.
The village has been known since the 13th century, but it has
ancient Roman origins. The name probably comes from an old farm
where the white wine, already renowned, was produced. We suggest a visit to the Church of San Pietro (1334), which
is considered one of the most significant monuments in the gothic-ligurian
style of the Cinque Terre and a view the Belvedere, an enchanting
terrace on the seaside. |