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Monterosso is the largest village in the Cinque Terre with a spacious sandy beach. The first testimony of Monterosso dates back to 1056. The San Cristoforo promontory divides Monterosso into two parts, connected by an underground tunnel of a hundred meters. On one side there is the new Fegina district is a residential part of the city, where the beach and the railway station are located. On the other side of the promontory, there is the ancient port and the historic centre where we can admire several monuments. Among these, the 14th century church of San Giovanni Battista, the Castello dei Fieschi, which stands on the Colle dei Cappuccini. The monastery whose church is dedicated to San Francesco, boasts many works of art, including paintings by Van Dick, Cambiaso, Piola and Guido Reni.
The ancient port area is full of characteristic narrow alleys of Liguria called “carruggi”. Here there are many bars, restaurants, ice cream parlours and boutiques. The Fegina area is famous for its long beach and the villas where many celebrities lived, such as Villa Montale and the estate of the Pastin family. At the end of the beach, almost camouflaged with the mountain, we can see a statue of truly colossal dimensions of 14 meters high, that represents the god Neptune, with a gigantic shell on his shoulder. The “Giant” was commissioned by Giovanni Pastin and built in concrete by the architect Arrigo Minerbi. During a bombing in the Second World War, the statue was partially destroyed and in 1966 during a storm it suffered other damages. The arms and one leg are missing, as well as most of the shell. But even in an incomplete form, the Giant gives the idea of the refined pomp of the Pastin family.
Parties and festivals.
Lemon festival, held on the third Saturday of May. Monterosso is famous for its citrus groves and in particular lemons. This day the whole country is decorated with lemons and leaves. On the streets there are stalls full of fragrant citrus fruits and all types of lemon-based products: limoncino, lemon cream, jams and cakes. Folkloric bands play everywhere and various competitions are held. This festival is one of the most colourful and cheerful of the Cinque Terre.
Infiorata Corpus Domini. Every year, in June, the alleys of the historic centre are decorated with flower petals, creating a spectacular rainbow mantle, through which a religious procession in honour of Corpus Christi will pass.
The feast of fried anchovies is celebrated on the third Saturday of June. You can taste the famous Monterosso anchovies, which are fried in a typical fish-shaped iron pan from the morning. Anchovies are served with fried bread and “Cinque Terre” wine.
Feast of the Madonna Assunta, held every year on August 14th. The pilgrimage begins from the Oratory of Santa Croce with a procession of children in the traditional guise of pilgrims and ends in the Sanremo della Madonna di Soviore. In the evening you can attend a magnificent firework display on the sea.
The feast of salted anchovy and olive oil is celebrated on the third Saturday of September. In the numerous stalls you can taste Monterosso salted anchovies.
The wine festival is held on the fourth Saturday of September. Obviously, the protagonist here are the Cinque Terre and the famous Sciacchetrà wines.
