The third village you meet arriving from La Spezia is Corniglia. Located 90 metres above the sea level, it is the only village of the Cinque Terre which does not directly open to the sea, although there is a way to the shore through some stairs leading to the pier and some flat rocks, where you can take a swim in the beautiful crystal-clear waters.
Another great spot for a swimming is the long beach covered in cobblestone below the railway station, which can be reached via the large stairway “La Lardarina”, counting 377 stairs!
Another special feature of this village is the “Rocca” (Fortress), located on the top of a cliff overlooking the sea, built by the Genoese in the second half of the sixteenth century to guard against incursions of the Saracen pirates.
Worth a visit is the Church of St. Peter, built in 1334, a true medieval masterpiece featuring a 3-nave layout, built with the use of local stone. Inside, you can admire four wooden statues representing the Evangelists, all dating back to the seventeenth century.
Like the other villages of the Cinque Terre, Corniglia has its own Sanctuary too: the Sanctuary of Mariano di Santa Maria delle Grazie, located in San Bernardino (a hamlet of Corniglia). The sanctuary can be accessed from the village of Corniglia by taking a trail uphill to the coastal road; it was built in the second half of the fifteenth century.
What to do in Corniglia: local festivities and celebrations
On June 29, date of the festival of St. Peter and Paul, the village central square comes to life and people queue up to get a taste of the renowned “torta dei Fieschi” (a local cake).
Meantime, families prepare a local delicacy at home, a typical salty cake that is also available in bars and eateries of the village.
On 8 September, locals meet at the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora delle Grazie (in San Bernardino) to participate in the procession in honour of Our Lady.