Exploring Riomaggiore

It's been several years since we last wandered around Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre and we take the train four stops from Monterosso to reintroduce ourselves to the city.  We've passed through Riomaggiore  many times on the beginning of hikes to Portovenere and occasionally stopped at the harbor for lunch, but today we wander more thoroughly through the streets.  We start at the train station and follow a path around the cliff (a journey that we normally take by way of a tunnel through the hill) to upper Riomaggiore.

Path around the hill

At the end of the path, we take the steps up into the city streets and head back to the sea for more great views of the sea and coast.

Up into the village

Returning to views of the sea

We turn around and head into the village and continue to wander up, overlooking the houses, the hills, and the sea, soon reaching an a large paved square with the church of San Giovanni Battista, built in 1340 and renovated in 1870.

Up the village streets

San Giovanni Battista

From the church, we descend into the city and find our way to the port, full of restaurants, boats, and tourists.

Back into the city streets

Looking back at the church

And, the other way out to sea

Reaching a main street

Passing under the train tracks to the harbor

At the harbor, we stop for a slice of pesto bruschetta and a glass of wine at a table with a view.

Lunch

After lunch, we walk out into the harbor and take a few more pictures up the coast with views of the four other Cinque Terre villages, Monterosso al Mare (our base) the farthest away.

Looking up the coast

It's been a great day to return to and revisit Riomaggiore (and a tasty lunch).