Returning to Monterosso

While the last few blogs were publishing, we return to Monterosso al Mare for the second visit this year, this time for almost two weeks.  We hike old, familiar trails, find new trails to new towns (new to us), favorite restaurants, and a few new restaurants in Monterosso.  We thought we would extend the coverage of Cinque Terre with a few more new and intriguing locations, hikes, and dining.

We arrive late in the day and once again have panini at Pan e Vino (several times this trip):  salami and gorgonzola and the Pan e Vino special (anchovy).

Our panini dinner

We head up to Santuario Nostra Signora di Soviore (the oldest Marian sanctuary in Liguria) twice, once on a beautiful, clear day and once on a stormy day after the rains have stopped.  What a great contrast!

Heading up on a clear day

Although we arrive at Soviore on Sunday, mass is at 4:00 and we are able to explore the chapel in the morning.

Admiring the chapel

Returning to Monterosso, it is a beautiful day on the beach.

On the beach

A few days later, just after the rain ends in the late morning, the trip to Soviore is a whole different experience.  The storm has knocked trees across the path and made the rocks slippery for the trip up and down.

After the storm

Clouds on the hills

We note that Soviore is a significant junction for several trails leading to Monterosso, Levanto, Colla di Gritta, Termine, and others.  We have gone in many directions from this point, but on both these trips we return to Monterosso's old town and enjoy fried fish cones from the shop at the train station.

Intersection

Clouds continue to pass over

Our descent into Monterosso yields increasingly-larger views of the village as we follow the winding road, along with interesting other views along the way.

Views as we descend

Cute car parked along the way

Fried fish cone reward

On the beach in Monterosso, this time the umbrellas are furled and the crowd is elsewhere, waiting for the next nice day (tomorrow).

Quiet at the beach

While we are sitting in a small park in Piazza Giuseppe Garibalidi, eating our fried-fish cones (and sipping our local white wine), we notice a crowd gathering at the edge of the park, outside the city hall entrance which is decorated with white flowers.  Soon a bride and groom appear and the wedding guests and passers-by stop and wait outside as the ceremony proceeds.

Entrance to city hall

The wedding party entering city hall

We continue on a wander around Monterosso and hope that the rain will hold off for the rest of the day (for us and for the wedding party).