Dining in Monterosso

Once again, we dine incredibly in Monterosso al Mare!  Our first dinner is at Il Casello, outside overlooking the sea.  We share stuffed anchovies, mussels, and sea bass with penne.

Anchovies, mussels

Sea bass with penne

Walking back after dinner, we peer into the beautiful church and chapel next to each other:  Parocchia di San Giovanni Battista and Oratorio Mortis et Orationis.

Peering inside

The next evening, we stop at the Midi Bar in Piazza Garibaldi for cocktails, accompanied by some small snacks.

Cocktails and snacks

Dinner is next door at L'Osteria, where we have anchovies, bruschetta three ways, branzino, mussels, and trofie with pesto.

Anchovies, bruschetta

Trofie, mussels

Branzino

Our next dinner is at Enoteca Internazionale, feasting on a salumi e formaggi platter and fantasia di bruschetta.

Two assortments

The next evening, we're at Cantina di Miky for sardines in olive oil, mussels in lemon and white wine, tagliolini pesto, frito misto, and anchovy spaghetti with tomatoes and capers.

Cantina, mussels, sardines

Pesto, anchovies

Frito misto

Our walk back takes us along the edge of the sea, where people are finishing up their dinners and enjoying the pleasant evening weather.

Folks finishing up dinner

The beach at night

Entertainment along the way

Our final dinner in Monterosso (this trip) has a focus of  pesto, with trofie and on pizza, all following an octopus salad.

Octopus salad

Pesto

After dinner, we again walk through the quiet streets, enjoying the sights and sounds of the city and the remaining tastes of our dinner.  What a great place! 

Quiet streets

Our short food tour of Monterosso would not be complete without a cone of fried fish for lunch, along with a bottle of local white wine, purchased at the little stand La Botegga del Fritto at the entrance to the train station.

Fried fish and wine

We could keep returning to Monterosso for just the food, but in addition, we find great people, wonderful scenery, and fabulous experiences.  That's why we come back every year!

Hiking to Soviore

Il Santuario di Nostra Signora di Soviore (The Sanctuary of our Lady of Soviore) is located near the top of the hills behind Monterosso al Mare and is a fabulous short hike (an hour or so) from the city.  The first building was erected here in the 7th century, with more impressive construction in the 14th century and a complete renovation in the 18th century.  The buildings now standing date principally back to the 1300s, with the 18th century updates.

Similar to most hikes in Cinque Terre, we start by going up the hill.

Starting up, looking back at Monterosso

Continuing up, view improving

It's a stormy day and the tops of the hills are in clouds, making for beautiful views as we ascend.

Hills in the clouds

Continuing up

More great views of clouds and hills interacting

We reach Soviore and walk into the beautiful, well-maintained chapel.

The chapel

Inside the chapel

Back outside, it is still stormy as we start back down the path to Monterosso.

Clouds over Monterosso

The theme is now "down"

Descending toward Monterosso

In town, the storm has all the beach umbrellas tightly furled, offering a different view of the beach. 

Beach in storm mode

We get a few more pictures of the clouds and city to leave us with fabulous memories of this stormy day.

The day winds down

Over the years we've been returning to Montetrosso al Mare, we rarely find stormy days.  Sometimes, a light rain shower will quickly pass through while we're out hiking, but for the most part, we have sunny days of great hiking, swimming, exploring, and dining.  It's a new adventure to have a day like today and get a new perspective of the city, the hills, and the sea in this weather.

Market Day in Monterosso al Mare

It's market day in Monterosso and we head down to Piazza Garibaldi to see what's for sale.  As we stroll down Via Roma from Villa Steno, we get a great view up toward the hotel, which explains the incredible view from it.

View of Villa Steno, view from Villa Steno

The market in the piazza is in full swing and we wander, admiring the fish, meat, cheese, and produce in the food area and considering some of the other goods on offer:  everything from clothing to household items to cooking utensils.

Goods for sale

Food for consumption here and cooking at home

On the harbor side of the piazza, the fishing boats are in, the beach umbrellas are furled, and the street is filled with trucks from the market vendors.

Boats and umbrellas resting

Vendors parked

As we walk back from the market, we spot a few great sights, including fish decorations above a door and the scooter outside the gelato shop, remaining from last year's publicity of the movie Luca, set in the fictional city of Portorosso, modelled after the towns of Cinque Terre, and the Vespa featuring predominantly in the film.

Sights along the way

Monterosso is one of our favorite cities in the world and we never tire of returning, wandering, and exploring the cities and countryside around it.