Holiday apartment in Vernazza: church, harbor and historic paths

Vernazza combines the sea, harbor, religious buildings and historic paths through olive groves and vineyards. The paths to the sanctuary lead through a landscape where vineyard terraces and olive groves meet historic buildings in the village.

Church, harbor and historic buildings

The Church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia stands by the sea on the western edge of Vernazza. It was first mentioned in 1318. At the entrance to the harbor lies Belforte, a square bastion above the rocks. The Mura e Convento dei Frati complex comprises walls, a tower, a church that has now been deconsecrated, and a cloister, and dates from the 17th century. The year 1318 and the 17th century therefore mark two different historical points in time.

At the beginning of the path to Corniglia stands a tower whose construction resembles that of the tower of Castello Doria. Castello Doria castle is located in the surrounding area of Vernazza. Historic structures can thus be encountered not only by the water, but also along the paths leading from the village into the surrounding area.

Hiking between the railway station, vineyards and sanctuary

The historic mule track Path 508, formerly Path No. 8, begins near Vernazza railway station and connects the village with villages in the uplands. On the way to the Nostra Signora di Reggio sanctuary, Path 508 passes through olive groves and vineyards and offers views of Vernazza. The sanctuary has a Romanesque façade; it has been mentioned since 1248. The route therefore leads from the station area into a landscape characterized by terraces and cultivated areas, and onward toward the sanctuary.

Along Path 508 between Vernazza and Foce Drignana, Stations of the Cross with marble reliefs stand beside the vineyard terraces. The reliefs are set in tabernacles or in the dry-stone walls that border the terraces. Sacred images and the traditional terraced landscape accompany this same section of the path. The marble reliefs and the dry-stone walls already differ in material, but remain connected within the same section of the path.

Another starting point characterizes Path 592-4 (SVA2): the Vernazza–Monterosso path begins at Vernazza's small harbor. While Path 508 starts near the railway station, Path 592-4 begins at the harbor. The two paths therefore have different starting points in the village and lead in different directions.

Arriving in Vernazza and path starting points

Regional trains stop in Vernazza, one of the railway stations of the Cinque Terre. The railway station is therefore both an arrival reference point and the starting area of Path 508, while the small harbor marks the start of Path 592-4. For a day of hiking, the railway station and harbor are two starting points in Vernazza.

More places for travel planning: Colombiera-Molicara, Piana Battolla, Cembrano, Tavarone, Cerreta, Rocchetta Di Vara, Tivegna and Le Grazie.

For the higher-level travel overview: La Spezia.