The History of Corniglia

Corniglia takes its name from the Roman family Gens Cornelia, whose freed slaves cultivated the steep hillsides . During the excavations of Pompei a lot of amphorae wine bearing the inscription “Cornelia” was recovered; this may have led many locals to claim that Cornelia’s son produced a wine so famous that even vases found at Pompeii touted its virtues… Throughout the medieval period, the village shifted between various noble rulers like the Bishops of Luni ,the Counts of Lavagna and the Fieschi family. In 1972 Corniglia officially became part of the Republic of Genoa following the pattern of the rest of the Cinque Terre. In 1348 the village has been featured in the literary masterpiece “The Decameron” of Boccaccio thanks to the white wine Vernaccia wich gained an international renown. Unlike the others of Cinque Terre villages that descend directly into the sea, Corniglia is characterized by its high cliffside position and Historically it was only accessible via steep sea paths or the famous Scalinata Lardarina(a brick staircase consisting of 382 steps). Today it’s also reachable by taking a shuttle bus from the station below. This is the reason why here it s possible to admire many highlights without crowds.