News from Monterosso al Mare
Cinque Terre Trails
The October 25th storm that devastated the towns of Monterosso and Vernazza also created landslides along the entire Cinque Terre coastline. Repairing and reopening the main Monterosso to Manarola trail is a main priority for the Cinque Terre National Park, which they hope to accomplish by spring.
In the meantime, here is a list of free, secondary trails that are open now, offering chances to explore new areas of the Cinque Terre.
- Monterosso to Levanto
- Monterosso to Foce Bagari to Colle di Gritta
- Vernazza to Madonna di Reggio
- Madonna di Reggio to Termine
- Corniglia to San Bernardino
- Corniglia to loc. Cigoletta
- Corniglia to Volastra
- Volastra to Manarola (accessible soon)
From Rebuild Monterosso
January 25, 2012
Three months have passed since the October 25th flood hit Monterosso, causing the village to experience the worst natural disaster of its entire history. This day brought immeasurable devastation: the loss of generations of hard work and sacrifice, incalculable financial damage and most importantly, the loss of one of its residents, Sandro Usai, a volunteer rescue worker swept away by the water's force.
The last three months have been dedicated to picking up the pieces, both emotionally and physically, of the village, and attempting to rebuild lives to what they were before that day.
As you saw in the photographs from the last post, an incredible amount of work has been done. Monterosso has not slept. There have been many tears, but no pity parties. The village has one focus, one common goal, and that is to fully recover from this flood.
The remarkable video below is a 10½-minute compilation of shots taken the day of the flood and the two days following it. It is heart-wrenching and difficult to watch, especially if this special village has ever touched you. It does though, give you an idea of how much work has been done since then.
It is inspiring how Monterosso's residents have refused to let go, refused to leave. Instead, the majority of the recovery work, organization and physical labor, is being accomplished by the townspeople themselves. You can help support their efforts by donating to a special fund set up by the municipality at www.rebuildmonterosso.com — where you'll also find postings of the latest news, including photos and videos of the progress being made.
Forza Monterosso!