Monterosso al Mare, referred to as Munterussu in Ligurian, is a town and comune situated in the province of La Spezia, within the Liguria region of Northern Italy. It is one of the five villages comprising the Cinque Terre. Located at the center of a small natural gulf, protected by a small artificial reef to the east of Punta Mesco in the Riviera of La Spezia, Monterosso al Mare is the westernmost village of the Cinque Terre. Beyond the hill of the Capuchins, in the western part of the original village, lies the village of Fegina. Fegina is a natural expansion characterized by a relatively modern tourist resort facility, contrasting with the ancient village. The two areas are connected by a tunnel spanning a few tens of meters. The local train station is situated in Fegina, and the beaches in this area are comparatively larger than the narrow cliffs found in the other Cinque Terre villages.

The town can be divided into two distinct parts: the old town and the new town. These two areas are separated by a single tunnel, exclusively accessible to pedestrians and a few cars allowed in the town.

Monterosso boasts a beach that extends along a significant portion of the coastline and is popular among tourists and locals alike. It is the only extensive sandy beach in the Cinque Terre. During the summer months, Monterosso becomes a small town teeming with tourists.

In 1948, the village was briefly excluded from the Cinque Terre trail, but it was reintroduced in mid-1949. Italian officials deemed the village too large to be considered part of the historic trail.

The area is renowned for its abundance of lemon trees, which can be found throughout Monterosso. It is also famous for its white wines, grapes, and olives.

History of Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre

Historically, many Mediterranean villages were fortified to defend against attacks from the sea, as this coastal region was frequently targeted by pirates.

In 1870, the Italian government constructed a railroad line that connected Monterosso to the rest of the country, opening up the town to the outside world. This railway remains the primary means of accessing the city.

During World War II, numerous young men from the Cinque Terre region participated in the resistance against the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini and the subsequent Nazi German occupation of Italy.