Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the five Cinque Terre villages, was established in 643 B.C when pre-roman communities searched a refuge near the San Cristoforo hill escaping from Longobard invasions. The name means "Monte dei Rossi" (Mountain of the Reds), reflecting the red hair of the first inhabitants .
Originally fortified by the Obertenghi family, in 1276 was purchased by the Republic of Genoa becoming a vital maritime hub. The iconic terraced vineyards and dry-stone walls that characterize the region today were engineered during this period.
Originally, Monterosso was only accessible by boat or foot through the mule tracks that also connected the other villages; this isolation probably contributed to the decline of the 17th century that ended two centuries later when the railway line between Genoa and La Spezia was built. For sure this event allowed the locals to escape their isolation, but also resulted in the abandonment of traditional activities: growing poverty forced many inhabitants to move abroad, at least up to the second half of the 20th century, when monterosso became a tourism destination .
