Porto di Vernazza

The port of Vernazza is one of Liguria’s most beautiful and picturesque ports along the entire coastline. It consists of a breakwater going in a north-northwest direction and a docked pier in the western area called the Ventegà pier. The port is equipped with slipway, hauling, and garbage storage facilities. To enter Vernazza by sea, attention must be paid to the western area under the mountain, where the seabed is very shallow and rocky. In the quay the sea depth varies from 1 to 2.5 meters and in the port from 4.5 to 6.5 meters.

The bottom of the harbor is sandy and access is regulated by an ordinance of the Municipality of Vernazza, which issues mooring permits. When entering the harbor one must proceed very slowly and be careful of the rocks that are under the breakwater; the seabed in this area is shallow and in summer the bay is very busy. When winds blow from the south-southwest access to the harbor is very difficult, especially in the western area it is forbidden to station and it is practically impossible to enter.

Vernazza is part of the Cinque Terre in the province of La Spezia and is located between Monterosso al Mare to the north and Corniglia to the south. The entire area is included in the Cinque Terre National Park and offers spectacular scenery both on the sea and inland. The town is perched on a mountain overlooking the water, and all around are the typical terraced crops common in this area of Liguria. There are numerous paths through the surrounding mountains to the rocks or onto the beach. Many small bays can only be reached by sea and are the most beautiful and unspoiled.

From Vernazza every corner of the coast is wonderful, and in addition to visiting the Cinque Terre one can push north past Monterosso and Punta Mesco toward Sestri Levante, Rapallo, and Portofino. The nearest safe anchorage is Portovenere to the south, which is reached by passing the Cinque Terre and entering between Palmaria Island and the point with the small church of St. Peter.

Vernazza is one of Liguria’s most popular landings, and the area in the summertime is very busy. The sea is very busy with both boaters and ferries from the shipping agencies that transport tourists to visit the coast. All the villages in the Cinque Terre are stunning, but Vernazza is perhaps the most beautiful of all because of its location and because it is a quaint fishing village that has remained unchanged over time. Above the village, at 325 meters above sea level, is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Reggio dating back to the first century B.C., which is also a refreshment stop where you can stay.