The Best of Monterosso al Mar
Monterosso al Mare is the largest of the five Cinque Terre villages and one of the best places to combine sightseeing, beaches, food and spectacular coastal views. From the famous Il Gigante statue and the sandy beach at Fegina to the atmospheric medieval Old Town, there are plenty of things to see and do in Monterosso al Mare.
If you're exploring Cinque Terre by train, Monterosso is also particularly easy to visit. The railway station is right beside the beach.
We'd recommend allowing at least half a day to explore Monterosso – and staying into the evening if you can. With dinner followed by sunset over the Ligurian Sea, it's a lovely place to finish a day in Cinque Terre.
Monteross al Mare at a Glance
- Location: The furthest Cinque Terre village from La Spezia
- Train station: Directly beside the beach
- Main areas: Fegina (New Town) and Borgo Antico (Old Town)
- Famous landmark: Il Gigante
- Historic landmark: Torre Aurora
- Best way to explore: On foot
- Our tip: Stay for dinner and sunset
Fegina – Monterosso's New Town
Monterosso is divided into two distinct areas. Fegina, often referred to as the New Town, is the more modern section and is where you'll arrive if you're travelling to Monterosso by train.
The railway station is practically on the beach, so as soon as you leave the station you'll find yourself beside the sea.
Fegina has a noticeably more traditional seaside-resort atmosphere than some of the other Cinque Terre villages, with a long beach, and plenty of restaurants and places to stop for a drink.
See Il Gigante – The Giant of Monterosso at the end of the beach in Fegina
One of the most famous sights in Monterosso is Il Gigante, meaning "The Giant".
From Monterosso railway station, face the sea and turn right. Follow the beach for around five minutes and you'll reach the enormous stone statue built into the rocks at the far end of the beach.
The figure represents Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, and is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Monterosso.
Although the statue has suffered damage over the years from storms and the elements, the surviving figure is still impressive and makes for an easy addition to your Monterosso itinerary.
Il Gigante, Monterosso
Explore Borgo Antico - Monterosso's Old Town
From Fegina, make your way towards Borgo Antico, Monterosso's Old Town.
The atmosphere changes as you leave the beach behind. Narrow streets, cobbled walkways, old buildings and steep steps replace the more modern feel of Fegina.
In between the two sections stands the medieval Torre Aurora, which is a useful landmark as you explore.
This is where you'll find some of the most interesting historic sights in Monterosso al Mare.
1. Visit the Statue of San Francesco d'Assisi
From the railway station, face the sea and turn left. The walk to the Statue of San Francesco d'Assisi takes around six minutes.
Continue past the pedestrian tunnel that takes you to the Old Town, and start climbing the steps. You'll see Torre Aurora on your right.
Follow the cobbled walkway and then take the additional steps on the left. Eventually you'll reach the statue of San Francesco d'Assisi.
The statue itself is worth seeing, but the real reason to make the climb is the view.
From here, you can look out across the Ligurian Sea, with Torre Aurora below you and the coastline stretching away in the distance.
Statue of San Francesco d'Assisi with the wolf of Gubbio
2. Church of di San Francesco
Don't turn around once you've reached the statue.
Continue onwards towards the Chiesa di San Francesco, following the signs for Salita dei Cappuccini (the name of the path).
The church and surrounding area are another reminder that there is much more to Monterosso than its beach.
Chiesa di San Francesco
3. Church of San Giovanni Battista
If you are aren't already churched out, head down towards the heart of the Old Town and you'll eventually reach the main square, where you'll find the Church of San Giovanni Battista.
The church dates back to the 1200s and is particularly easy to spot thanks to its distinctive black-and-white striped façade – a style you'll see elsewhere in Liguria.
Entrance is free, and if you're lucky you may even find music playing inside, which makes stepping through the doors feel like a particularly nice break from the busy streets outside.
The church is only around a three-minute walk inland from the Statue of San Francesco d'Assisi, and Chiesa di San Francesco, so it's easy to combine the two when exploring the Old Town.
Church of San Giovanni Battista
4. Monterosso Beach
One of the biggest differences between Monterosso and the other Cinque Terre villages is its beach.
The long stretch of beach at Fegina gives Monterosso a much stronger seaside-resort feel than villages such as Vernazza, Corniglia or Manarola.
Even if you're primarily visiting Cinque Terre for the scenery and villages rather than a beach holiday, it's worth taking some time to walk along the waterfront.
And if you've spent the day climbing Cinque Terre's many steps, sitting beside the sea for a while is probably not a bad idea!
Monterosso Beach
5. Stay for Sunset and Dinner
If your itinerary allows, stay in Monterosso for dinner.
The village has plenty of restaurants and the Old Town is particularly atmospheric in the evening, once many of the day visitors have started to leave.
Rather than rushing back to La Spezia or jumping straight onto the next train, this is one of the Cinque Terre villages where it's worth slowing down.
With sunset at around 19:15 (September), you can make an evening of it. Start with a wander around the Old Town, find somewhere for dinner and then enjoy the changing light over the sea.
Monterosso has a different atmosphere from the other Cinque Terre villages. It's bigger, more spacious and has more of a traditional seaside-resort feel, but the Old Town still gives you plenty of those narrow streets, historic buildings and dramatic coastal views that make the Cinque Terre so special.
How Long Do You Need in Monterosso al Mare?
Allow yourself an afternoon if you want to explore without rushing. If you're staying for dinner and sunset, even better.
You could see the main sights more quickly, particularly if you're simply ticking off the village as part of a Cinque Terre day trip. However, that misses some of what makes Monterosso enjoyable.
If you're staying overnight, even better. You'll have the opportunity to experience Monterosso after the busiest part of the day has passed.
Is Monterosso al Mare Worth Visiting?
Absolutely – but we'd suggest visiting it for more than just its beach.
Monterosso offers something slightly different from the other Cinque Terre villages. It's the largest of the five, has a substantial beach, an easy-to-access railway station and a fascinating Old Town packed with historic sights.
The contrast between modern Fegina and the medieval Borgo Antico makes Monterosso particularly interesting to explore on foot.
If you can stay until evening, dinner and sunset are the perfect way to finish your visit to Monterosso al Mare.
Monterosso may be the largest of the Cinque Terre villages, but don't let that tempt you to rush through it. Put the map away for a while, follow the cobbled streets, climb the steps, stop for the views and enjoy the village at your own pace.
That's when Monterosso really comes alive.
