In 2013, the New York Times named Vernazza, also known as Cinque Terre (meaning “Five Lands”), one of the world’s top twenty places to visit. At the time, the town was still getting back on its feet after a flood and soil slide two years before. 

.

.

With help from donors all over the world, the people who lived there were working hard to restore the beauty of their little streets and brightly colored homes. The “suspended vineyards” that surround and look out over the town now have only young vines growing in them. These were planted after the flood to replace the old vines that were uprooted by the landslides. Once more, Vernazza is likely the most amazing and surprising of the five towns that make up the Cinque Terre.

.

According to historical records, the village was built around the 11th century as a harbor for trade and defense. It is in a small bay between the “lands” of Monterosso al Mare and Corniglia, which is part of its town. The military history of the town can be seen in the Doria Castle, which stands out in the bay with its old tower and is one of the most famous landmarks in Vernazza.