Famous as “the balcony of the Cinque Terre” for its spectacular views, Corniglia is also the central point where the villages divide: it’s the middle village, with Manarola and Rio Maggiore to the east, Vernazza and Monterosso to the west.
Its position is quite distinctive: it’s the only one among these five famous villages without a historic centre right by the sea. Its narrow lanes and little houses, with their typical pastel-coloured facades but lower than those in the coastal villages, are perched on a promontory that rises 100 metres above sea level, covered with terraced vineyards.
It’s a village with ancient origins, already known in Roman times and celebrated by Boccaccio in the Decameron. Because of its position, it’s perhaps the least visited of the Cinque Terre villages, which is rather a shame since it takes only a little effort to get there and you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views.
From the terraces of bed and breakfasts and the viewpoints of central Corniglia, you can admire the enchanting Ligurian sea and its splendid hues – here a pale blue and there emerald green – whether you’re indulging in romantic daydreams or searching for that perfect shot, perhaps for a framed photo or a follower-catching selfie. The sea isn’t actually that far away – just ten minutes downhill and you can dive into its crystal-clear waters.
The small village of Corniglia is one of the most authentic in the Cinque Terre, a real gem to explore on foot without rushing or following set itineraries. There are no museums or famous monuments – the attractions here are the spectacular sea views and the romantic atmosphere of the narrow streets.
To help you navigate freely through the historic centre, use Via Fieschi, Corniglia’s main street, and Largo Taragio, the main square, as your reference points. Overlooking this eighteenth-century square is the Oratorio di Santa Caterina1, a modest church but with a lovely panoramic terrace at the back.
Another historic church in Corniglia is the Church of San Pietro2, located along the main street. Built in 1334 on the site of an earlier church dating from the eleventh century, it represents one of the finest examples of Ligurian Gothic architecture. Worth admiring are the rose window in Carrara marble added in 1351, the twelfth-century baptismal font and the statues of the evangelists.
Corniglia’s most famous viewpoint, which you shouldn’t miss, is the Belvedere della terrazza di Santa Maria3 at the end of Via Fieschi. The sea view from here is breathtaking: you can see all of the Cinque Terre, and if you’re lucky enough to visit on a particularly clear day, your gaze can stretch all the way to the Corsican coast.
Another lovely viewpoint is the Piazzetta del Fosso, from which you can admire the villages on the eastern side of the Cinque Terre.
In the centre of Corniglia you’ll see a defensive tower built in the sixteenth century by the Fieschi family, a noble Genoese family who lived in Corniglia in the late Middle Ages.
Famous and feared is the Scalinata Lardarina4, which connects the historic centre to the train station: it’s a brick staircase with over 30 flights and nearly 400 steps.
Corniglia isn’t a seaside resort and isn’t recommended for those wanting a typical beach holiday. However, this doesn’t mean that visitors to this magnificent village have to go without a pleasant hour or two relaxing on the beach.
There are three beaches accessible on foot from Corniglia’s centre.
The easiest to reach is the Spiaggione di Corniglia5, which is right opposite the train station. It’s a beach of large white pebbles backed by a rocky cliff face, not particularly picturesque but perfect for a refreshing dip. From the station you reach the beach via a small staircase that cuts through a row of beach huts along the rocky wall.
Another beach you can reach with a bit of effort but without venturing onto challenging paths is Marina di Corniglia6. This little beach is essentially a cluster of rocks at the end of a long staircase from the historic centre, in the opposite direction from the station. Going down isn’t difficult, but coming back up is more tiring.
Small and inconvenient as it is, it still attracts plenty of sunbathing and swimming enthusiasts. It has plenty of advantages: the emerald green colour of the water, proximity to the centre and its location in a picturesque bay overlooked by an imposing promontory (known as “the three crosses”).
Even more beautiful, though more difficult to reach on foot, is the Spiaggia di Guvano, Vernazza7, located between Corniglia and Vernazza. It’s a beach of white pebbles and wet sand washed by crystal-clear waters, hidden between sheer cliff faces and dense vegetation; isolated and difficult to access, it guarantees peace and privacy and is much loved by naturists.
Corniglia is at the centre of a dense network of trails that allows you to explore the other Cinque Terre villages and the surrounding countryside on foot.
Among the trails passing through Corniglia, the most famous is the celebrated Sentiero Azzuro8, an easy-going walking route that connects the Cinque Terre villages. Unfortunately, some sections are currently closed due to unsafe conditions: if you’re interested in walking it, check the current status of the trail with the Cinque Terre National Park authority.
Don’t worry if this trail is closed – you can take other wonderful routes between sea and mountains, surrounded by greenery and peace. There are trails for all levels around Corniglia, from easy walks of an hour or so to challenging trekking routes for experienced hikers.
Even if you choose an easy trail, don’t underestimate it: wear proper footwear (no sandals or smooth-soled shoes), protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen and a hat, and bring plenty of water with you.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Staying in Corniglia can be a bit pricey: the village is small and accommodation in the historic centre is limited compared to the number of visitors.
There are some bed and breakfasts and studio apartments in the mid-range with affordable prices: they fill up quickly, so book well in advance to get one. A short distance from the centre there’s a hostel, an economical option suitable for solo travellers too.
Those with a generous budget can choose from delightful rooms with sea views in elegantly furnished houses and apartments with all mod cons.
There are no hotels in Corniglia: if you prefer this type of accommodation you’ll need to stay in nearby locations.
Be careful about the location when you book: given the difficulty of reaching the centre on foot, before booking it’s worth checking whether your chosen accommodation is in the village or near the station/beach area.
We offer a selection of hotels at Corniglia to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Corniglia, sorted by number of reviews.
If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Corniglia. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Corniglia are in high demand.
Cars are banned from the village for non-residents. Those wishing to reach Corniglia by car will need to leave it in a designated car park outside the historic centre and continue on foot. The car park has only 90 spaces and fills up quickly during high season.
If that doesn’t put you off, here’s how to get to Corniglia by car: take the A12 motorway (Genoa–La Spezia), exit at Santo Stefano di Magra and follow signs for La Spezia first, then Portovenere–Cinque Terre. You’ll join the Cinque Terre Coastal Road, which you should follow until the road leading to Corniglia.
It’s actually much more convenient to reach Corniglia by train. Corniglia station, to the east of the centre, is on the Genoa–La Spezia railway line; it’s served year-round by regional trains and during the summer months also by local trains of the 5 Terre Express line.
The main way into the village is the Scalinata Lardarina, which you’ll find right beside the station: allow about 20 minutes to climb it; alternatively you can take Via della Stazione, a road that follows a slightly longer route.
Both routes are very steep: if you want to spare yourself the effort you can take the shuttle bus that waits for arriving train passengers and goes up to the historic centre. The bus leaves once the seats are full; if you miss it, simply wait for the next one.
What's the weather at Corniglia? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Corniglia for the next few days.
Corniglia is a hamlet within the municipality of Vernazza (SP) and sits in eastern Liguria. The nearest Cinque Terre villages are Vernazza to the west (approximately 3.5 km on foot, 6 by car) and Manarola to the east (approximately 6 km on foot, 11 by car); La Spezia lies around 30 km away, with Genoa some 100 km distant.
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