From Deiva Marina to Portovenere is a delightful itinerary which among others, visits the splendid villages of the Cinque Terre; it is also a complex and winding route because the coast is very steep and there is no true coast road.

1. DEIVA MARINA TO PORTOVENERE
From Deiva Marina to Portovenere is a delightful itinerary which among
others, visits the splendid villages of the Cinque Terre; it is also a complex
and winding route because the coast is very steep and there is no true
coast road. The train is an excellent alter-native to the car (Genoa-La
Spezia line) and provides more direct links between the places described.
Leave the Genoa-Livorno motorway (A 12) at the Deiva Marina exit and
go to the resort of the same name, situated at the mouth of the Deiva
river; this resort has a large beach and bathing amenities. The present
town arose with the settlement (14th-15'h cent.) of the people of the
hamlets of Mezzema, mentioned as far back as the 8th century and again
in 1019, and of Passano, which took its name from the local lords who
had built a castle there and extended their domain all over the area.
From here proceed toFramura, groups of houses scattered over the land;
of interest is the Romanesque church of San Martino with century bell-
tower, originally a watch-tower against Saracen forays. You will then
come to Bonassola , a seaside resort lying in a small inlet; the parish
church of Santa Caterina contains an interesting painting by A. Discovolo.
Also of note is the church of San Giorgio. The next stop is Levanto, a
resort protected by a large amphitheater of hills. Of ancient origin, this
town became a possession of the Malaspina family in the Middle Ages
and, starting from the 14'h century. belonged to the republic of Genoa.

2. The loggia comunale (piazza del Popolo) dates from the 13'h century and
has large arches supported on columns with Romanesque capitals. From
Levanto a road runs northwards around the impressive headland of
puntaMescoand leads to Monterosso al Mare, a farming center and
resort of the Cinque Terre set in a beautiful inlet. A mediaeval feud, in the
14'h century it became a possession of the republic of Genoa. The village
is dominated by the old castle which commands a splendid view of the
Cinque Terre.

3. Passing the sanctuary of the Madonna di Soviore you come to the
picturesque village of Vernazza,founded around the 11th century. From
Vernazza continue to Corniglia, a hamlet high above the sea presenting
the typical layout of inland ligurian villages. The surrounding countryside,
made of steep terraced vine-yards is reached by spectacular monorails
that greatly reduce the labour of the farmers. Passing Volastra, a hamlet
on a hill covered with vine-yards, you arrive at the village of Manarola,
with its houses rising steeply above the waves. Proceed then to
Riomaggiore, situated on the eastern edge of the Cinque Terre, along a
steep, cultivated valley. As well as fishing, grapes play a major role here.
According to tradition the village was founded in the 8th century by some
refugees who had escaped the Iconoclastic battles of the Byzantine
empire. From Riomaggiore follow the main road for La Spezia and, come
to the outskirts of the town, turn right for Portovenere , a seaside resort

4. situated at the tip of the peninsula to the west of the gulf of La Spezia. A
stretch of sea separates it from the island of Palmaria.
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