Monterosso al Mare

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Comune di Monterosso al Mare
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Liguria
Province	Province of La Spezia (SP)
Mayor	Angelo Maria Betta (since June 14, 2004)

Elevation	0 m
Area	11 km²
Population
- Total (as of 2001)	1,563
- Density	142/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	44°08′45″N, 09°39′15″E
Gentilic
Dialing code	0187
Postal code	19016

Monterosso al Mare is a town and commune in the province of La Spezia, part of the region of Liguria (northern Italy). It is one of the five villages in Cinque Terre. The town is divided into two distinct parts: the old town and the new town. The two areas are divided by a single tunnel that caters to pedestrians and the very few cars in the town.

The beach of Monterosso.

The beach at Monterosso runs along most of the coast line and is well used by tourists and locals. The beach is the only extensive sand beach in the Cinque Terre. Monterosso is a small town that in the summer months is overrun by tourists.

1 Crops
2 History
3 Main sights
4 Village life
5 Links

[edit] Crops

The area is famous for its many lemon trees that can be seen throughout Monterosso. It is also renowned for its white wines, grapes, and olives.

[edit] History

In 1870 the Italian government built a railroad line into the city - which has opened it up to the outside world. This is the main way in which people enter the city.

During world war II many of the young men of Cinque Terre fought for the resistance against Hitler and Mussolini.

[edit] Main sights

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The Castle, partially ruined, built by the Genoese.
The Parish church of St. John the Baptist (1282-1307). On the façade, the main portal is surmounted by a fresco portraying the Baptism of Christ, and has four small marble columns. The church is on the basilica plan, with a nave and two aisles. The square-planned, medieval bell tower is crowned by merlons.

[edit] Village life

Along the hiking Trail, Monterosso

Historically, many of the villages on the Mediterranean were walled to protect againstt attacks from the sea. This area of the coast was often attacked by Muslim pirates and Vikings. Viking influence can still be seen in the occasional fair-skinned, red-headed children of the native villagers in the region.

Originally, the village was only accessible by sea or by mule paths that connected the villages of the Cinque Terre as well as to Via Roma, the main road that connected all of Italy to Rome. These mule paths have been maintained and used over the centuries and now provide hikers with a more intimate view of the sea-swept Cinque Terre. The area was recently designated as part of the national park system and is considered a protected area, to the effect of limited development and resource usage. The Cinque Terre hiking trails have been taken over by the national park system and there is now a fee to hike on all portions of the trail.