Vernazza was mentioned as early as year 1000 and records described it as a fortified seaside village used by the naval force of the Marquises Obertenghi, who tried to prevent pirates from raiding and flagellating this stretch of coast.
Vernazza is included in the top hundred villages in Italy; it enjoys a quiet location, almost hidden in its bay.
The amphitheatre formed by the multi-coloured houses, arranged in semicircle around the small square opening to the sea, offers a fantastic view to visitors arriving by boat. Being this village so close to the sea, the walls and foundations of the parish Church of St. Mary of Antiochia are constantly washed by the sea. The church was built in the eleventh century, it features a 3-nave layout and a fine 40m clock tower with an octagonal base.
Vernazza has its own Sanctuary too, located above the village: the Sanctuary of Reggio: located around 300 metres above Vernazza, in the small village of Reggio, it is surrounded by woods above the sea. Across the sanctuary, a small square shaded by trees offers enchanting views of the bay. The Sanctuary has a cross-shaped layout and was built in the fourteenth century.
Following are festivities and celebrations held in Vernazza:
On 19 and 20 July, the village celebrates the festival of St. Margaret of Antiochia, the village patron saint (just a few days before the festival in honour of Our Lady of Reggio), to which is dedicated the beautiful Church located in the square. The procession is particularly colourful. The festival is animated also by fireworks and food stalls lined up along the streets.
The first Sunday of August is the occasion to celebrate Our Lady of Reggio, at the Sanctuary bearing her name.
On 8 September, the village celebrates San Bernardino instead. The festival includes a variety of much-appreciated food stalls.
On 24 December, Christmas is welcomed with a renowned and amazing nativity scene underwater, attracting visitors from all over Italy. At midnight, you can watch the picturesque representation of the Child’s birth in the sea, then brought to shore by a group of divers who picked him from an underwater cave.