It is quite sure that the origins of Riomaggiore back to the eighth century when the inhabitants of the Vara valley, searching a milder to raise grapevines and olive trees without the fear of pirate attacks, they headed towards the coast climate. The city rises along the ridges overlooking the sea and is characterized from the typical stone houses with colorful facades and slate roofs.
The town of Riomaggiore presents typical characteristics that reflect its history and traditions.
The city extends along a vertical axis where steep stairs are the only way to get around the city.
Typical houses have one or two towers soil in order to use in the best place in the arrangement.
The first historical traces date back to 1239, when the inhabitants of the feudal district of Carpena entered the Society of Genovese.
Only in 1343 Riomaggiore became independent as municipality and administration, and during Napoleon's age also absorbed the town of Manarola, whose historical roots are even older than Riomaggiore itself.
Guardiola Tower, now a natural park, once was one of the best equipped in the area strengths.
The church of San Juan Bautista dates from 1341, and its facade was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style in 1820. Also the parish church of San Lorenzo dates back to 1338, has a Gothic facade.
The castle of Riomaggiore (15th and 16th century) stands on a rocky crag dividing the oldest part of the city from which it is placed near the train station.
Not far from a group of houses on the hill of Cerrico, it is the castle, a fortress dating from the 13th century and from where you can enjoy a wonderful view over the sea.
In the highest part of town is the parish church of San Juan Bautista built in 1340 by the Bishop of Luni, Antonio Fieschi. Down the road from the Sanctuary you can reach the oratory "dei Disciplinati" (16th century), very interesting for the paintings inside. About 350 meters from the sea, along the coast road connecting the Cinque Terre with La Spezia, you can find the shrine of the Madonna di Montenero.
About Guardiola Tower, accessible through a path out of town, we can say that is the best beauty spot overlooking the coast and the city. Very interesting is the Environmental Education Centre of Torre Guardiola, whose aim is organizing several events for nature lovers of all ages. Among them is the "Writing Trail" which, through some laps indicated by panels, which invites tourists to express their creativity by writing poems about the beauty of the landscape.
Castle of Riomaggiore: you can reach the fortification of the city, up the steep road from the train station. It was begun in 1260 by the Marquis Turcotti, lord of Ripalta and feudal vassal of this part of the coast, who gave up all these properties to Nicolò Fieschi, after some years, transferred to the Republic of Genoa, who completed the Riomaggiore defense system. The castle has a square base with longer sides with sea views. The boundary wall has two circular towers. The entrance is located between the towers, and a narrow external staircase leads to the control tower of the city, where a large clock was built. Not far away the oratory of San Rocco, built in memory of a plague that touched the community in 1480. During the time the castle was not only normal wear of the elements, but also a modification that changes the original configuration is upwards. In fact, until a few years ago, the inner part of the fortress housed the city cemetery.
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