The time is now. For everything.: Monterosso. Where the Giant rests by the sea.

After Vernazza, next of five lands to visit was Monterosso.

Cinque Terre you can reach by train, Monterosso is the only one that can be reached by car - but it is not recommended.

The town traces its origins back to 629 a.d., when hilltop populations, fleeing the devastation left in the wake of the barbarian invader Rothari, settled by the sea on San Cristoforo hill, where the ruins of a fortress (now the town cemetery) bear witness to this early settlement.

Monterosso is the only village in the Cinque Terre with its own large beach and a seafront promenade, which connects the traditional houses and alleyways ("carruggi") in the historic part of town, to the new residential neighbourhood of Fegina.

Wow, the view from these balconies...

I would so enjoy my morning coffee here.

This promenade reminds me of promenades in Croatia, Opatija for example.

And it is kids friendly.

Yes, some people never grow up.

I am one of them.

How can't I grow any cactuses like this?Plants do not like me... Hopefully those I bought for my balcony will survive. At least for a month...

Public transport in all its gory.

And if you have a boat - you just throw it away here.

Big parking you leave your car at if you decided to take that silly road to here.

But it is worth it.

Because of this beach.

At the end of this beach is this famous villa with The Giant.

Giant is carved in this rock.

The beach at Monterosso runs along most of the coastline and is well used by tourists and locals.
The beach is the only extensive sand beach in the Cinque Terre.

Too bad I decided to go to the centre instead of sunbathing here.

I like the sea, sand and pebbles, salty air and the sun.

These are my secret passions.

And the best combination of these for me is anywhere at the Mediterranean.

This big rock here reminds me of Isola Bella near Taormina or the Cyclop Coast towards Siracusa, Sicily.

The town is divided into two distinct parts: the old town and the new town. The two areas are divided by a single tunnel that caters to pedestrians and the very few cars in the town.

Another beach, rather small one and in front of the old town.

Monterosso is a small town that in the summer months is overrun by tourists.

The village was briefly excluded from the Cinque Terre trail in 1948, but was re-introduced in mid-1949. This is because Italian officials considered the village too large to be considered part of the historic trail.

Little square, with playground and many tiny restaurants and wine shops.

I particularly liked this bell tower.

Famous local wine.

Time to go it was.
Six hours were spent long time ago so we decided to take the train and hope that for that one stop
there will not be control...
But there was :)