Vernazza
Discovering Vernazza - A Brief Introduction
Hello everyone! Today, I will talk about Vernazza, a beautiful Italian commune located in the province of La Spezia in Liguria. Vernazza is part of the famous Cinque Terre and is the second town encountered when coming from the west. This splendid location is characterized by typical terraces and dry stone walls used for cultivating vineyards. Moreover, the area is part of the national park of Cinque Terre and the UNESCO site "Porto Venere, Cinque Terre and Isole (Palmaria, Isola del Tino e Tinetto)".
If hiking is your thing, Vernazza is the place for you! Among the various hiking trails connecting the Cinque Terre settlements, the forest trail is our favorite. Marked with number 507 by the Italian Alpine Club, it crosses the hamlet of Casella and the Sella della Cigoletta, linking the coast with the middle and lower Vara Valley.
But that's not all! Vernazza boasts an exceptionally intact urban fabric, articulated in a series of alleys and steep staircases. The town grew along the Vernazzola stream, now covered, which constitutes the central artery. Above the village of Vernazza, at an altitude of 325 meters above sea level, lies the sanctuary of Our Lady of Reggio.
But let's begin our adventure with a brief look at the physical geography of the place.
Physical Geography
Vernazza is situated in a bay between the municipalities of Monterosso al Mare and Riomaggiore. Not only that, the municipality also includes the hamlet of Corniglia. The territory is characterized by typical terraces and dry stone walls used for cultivating vineyards, the morphological style of which, according to an estimate, extends for more than 7,000 km.
The village is surrounded by breathtaking scenery, and the Cinque Terre are famous worldwide for their natural beauty. If you love nature, you will find a great variety of fauna and flora here.
Origins of the Name
Did you know that the origin of the toponym "Vernazza" derives from the adjective "verna", which can be translated as "indigenous" or "local"? Interesting, isn't it?
History
Vernazza boasts a centuries-old history. The first documented records date back to 1080 when the "castrum Vernatio" is mentioned as a maritime base of the Obertenghi. A powerful dynasty of Frankish origin, the Obertenghi were also lords of Vernazza in the 11th and 12th centuries and probably used the natural harbor as a naval base both to protect the Levante Riviera from Saracen raids and to support the commercial exchanges of the area.
The marquises built a first observation and defense station in 1056. With the development of the navy and the increase of commercial traffic, Vernazza became one of the coastal bases of the Republic of Genoa, which considered it fundamental for the commercial, political, and territorial conquest of the Levante Riviera. In 1209, the eighty-eight families of the Vernazzese territory swore loyalty to the Republic of Genoa.
In the 13th century, new feudatories settled in the village: first the Da Passano and then, from 1211, the Fieschi.
Conclusion
Dear friends, it was a pleasure to introduce you to Vernazza, the magnificent location of the Cinque Terre. I hope I have provided you with the necessary information to plan your next visit. In this village, you will find the perfect combination of natural beauty and history. Have fun!
