Cinque Terre, Italy is made up of five small towns named Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore that lie on the Ligurian coastline. The value of this place doesn't come from major landmarks, artworks, or museums. Rather, the value comes from its breathtaking harbors, gorgeous scenery, colorful buildings, medieval surroundings, and the breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. All five cities have something to offer, from the gothic influences of churches in Corniglia and Manarola, Vernazza's castle and beautiful harbor, Monterosso's beach front and fortress built in 1622, the 16th century watch towers and bell towers in Manarola and Monterosso, and the slew of medieval churches and castles in Riomaggiore. You can also see the entirety of the Cinque Terre coast at the Sanctuary of Madonna di Motenero in Riomaggiore, which is one of the best viewpoints in the entire village. No matter what city you're in, there's always something to marvel at.
Traces of these lands can date back to Roman times and served as fishing towns for a long time. Many civilizations vied for this land because of its strategic location along the Mediterranean Sea. The Barbarians, Byzantines, Lombards, and a myriad of feudal families all claimed parts of this land at one point in time before all five cities were eventually taken over by the Republic Of Genoa in 1276. There was also a wall built in the Middle Ages that surrounds the area for fortification purposes. For example, the Torre Aurora, a medieval creation, was made to fend off pirates. Because of the Cinque Terre being far from many other cities, it was nearly impossible to get to by land, only by sea. It took until 1870 for a railroad to be built by the Italian Government for visitors to finally visit the cities. And those visitors get to experience the greatest sights and scenes Europe has to offer.
Works Cited
"Cinque Terre: History." Cinque Terre, Italy, https://cinqueterre.a-turist.com/history.Packard, Robert. "A Walk in the Cinque Terre." The New York Times, Oct. 6, 1985, https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/06/travel/a-walk-in-the-cinque-terre.html.
Rogers, Barbara Radcliffe. "Visiting the 5 Towns of the Cinque Terre." Planetware, https://www.planetware.com/italy/cinque-terre-cinqueterre-i-li-cqfv.htm.
That's really cool that Cinque Terre is a sort of conglomeration of cultural influences from Roman to Byzantine to medieval. It would be interesting to walk around and see if you can find evidence of each! It reminds me of the Amalfi Coast: crowded, colorful buildings facing a gorgeous blue sea. The roads there are narrow and crowded, but much quicker (and cheaper!) than traveling by sea.
ReplyDeleteI believe it mostly is medieval (I can't think of any Roman or Byzantine influences per se). For Byzantine influence, think Venice, which is closer to old Byzantium.
DeleteI thought it was interesting when you described how Cinque Terre consists of five small towns, and that these towns all share a unique history from the Romans, Barbarians, Byzantines, Lombards, and other influential groups during the peak of the Middle Ages. I definitely understand why these groups would choose this location in that Cinque Terre is adjacent to the Mediterranean and would be a great place to profit socially and economically. Also, from the photos you included, Cinque Terre looks absolutely stunning and would make a great tourist destination. Good job on your blog post.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post illuminating the variety and beauty of medieval cities. Cinque Terre has such an interesting history because it has been competed for by so many different groups, and over such an expanse of time. I understand that competition for the area was due to location and strategy, but I might have competed for Cinque Terre just for the views!
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