In the stretch of coast between Punta Persico and Punta Mesco, a multitude of multicolored rocks create a unique variety of landscapes: from the colors also stands out the Cinque Terre Park
It is said that to understand a sea land, from the sea you should look at it: watching the coastline of the Cinque Terre National Park, which stretches from Portovenere to Monterosso, what catches the eye is the Cinque Terre Park is multicolored.
One of the coves of the “Rosse”, rock formations, given by stratidifcazioni of these fossils “ammonniti”.
The “Red”, the “White”, the “Black” are names for the stretches of coast given by those who have always lived here for the characteristic color of the rocks, reflecting in the water and creating beautiful and colorful lighting effects. The same name of Monterosso, one of the “Cinque Terre” villages, comes from the color of the rock promontory on which it is.
But what are these colors and these rocks in detail? And why are they so different?
The colorfulness of the Cinque Terre Park rocks is due to the complexity of the geological history of the area.
With a “small” step back a hundred million years, we find that a clash between the European and the African plate caused the disappearing of a small ocean basin called Tethys, which was later re-ejected in the form of the ophiolites forming the Ligurian and Provencal basin, but also the Alps.
These rocks result of uprisings, overlapping and incorporations have appeared in the most remote times with underwater volcanic eruptions, which from the magma in contact with the water and the air have resulted in rich iron formations and magnesium colored from emerald green to red, the typical colors of the stretch between Punta Mesco and Monterosso.
Of relatively recent times are the “Tuscany Series”, a sandstone – usually characterized by white, gray and black bedding – formed by sediments of materials derived from the uprising rocky chains called “Boulder”. You can recognize them in the typically “zebra” stratifications of all the villages of the Cinque Terre , between Riomaggiore and Monterosso.
Manarola is distinguished by a particular darker color of the rock : sediments are derived from the action of waves and currents on the coast, derived from the dismantling of rocky cliffs.
The extraordinary red color of the “Rosse” is due instead to a substantial amount of the “ammonniti” fossils; the white cliffs of the “Bianche”, and also the one on which is the climbing school of Muzzerone and characteristic also of Palmaria and Portovenere however, is the most typical limestone of the Apennines and the Alps.
It is among the smallest of Italy, but the most densely populated: the Cinque Terre Park tells a story of continuous search for balance between nature and man.
The Cinque Terre villages are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, with a total population of about 4,000 inhabitants. The story told by these villages and the area around them is one of a complex relationship between a not always good nature and requirement of human development. The inhabitants of these areas, for thousands of years have worked to make each small strip of land, often overlooking the sea, and disputed wit the rocky soil, arable. Today, the view offered by the terraces and villages, is one of the most evocative of Italy.
How to visit Cinque Terre:
By train: With the Cinque Terre Card, you can visit the villages in the course of several days, while taking advantage of the linked shuttle.
By car: 111/5000
access to the park is limited. Some large car parks are located in Riomaggiore and Manarola, and also in Monterosso.
By boat: Available in the summer season, times are available here.
On foot: There are many possible hikings in the Cinque Terre Park. to know more, download the Cinque Terre & Beyond application.
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