Palmaria Island

Isola Palmaria (Palmaria Island) is the largest of the three islands in the Gulf of La Spezia and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the village of Porto Venere across the channel and the smaller islands of Tino and Tinetto.  Even though Palmaria is a small island (1.89 sq. km., .72 sq. miles), it features multiple landscapes with Mediterranean vegetation facing the gulf and shear cliffs facing the sea. 

We take a ferry down the coast from Monterosso al Mare to Porto Venere where we catch a smaller shuttle ferry to Palmaria.

Ferry leaving Monterosso

Looking back at Monterosso

Calm seas today

Passing the other Cinque Terre towns

Along the coast to Porto Venere

We take a quick stroll in Porto Venere, before hopping on the shuttle to Palmaria

Walk through Porto Venere

Shuttle to Palmaria

Map of Palmaria and hiking trails

Arriving in Palmaria, we walk along the coast a bit and then start up to the top of Sommità dell'Isola Palmaria, 189 meters (620 feet) up.  The views of Porto Venere across the channel change dramatically  as we climb.

Porto Venere from sea level

Heading up

Looking up the coast toward Monterosso

Porto Venere from higher up

We continue climbing with occasional views of the sea.

Continuing to climb

Glimpses of the sea

Approaching the top, we reach Forte di Cavour which dates back to the Napoleonic period of the Ligurian Republic.  Built in the mid-1850s to hold 330 soldiers and many 240mm howitzers, the fort served as a defensive system for the Gulf of La Spezia.  The abandoned structure is now inhabited by goats who ignore us as we walk by.

Caretakers of the fort

We pass through and continue on to the other side of the island.

A Stormy Day in Monterosso al Mare

The wind is strong, the waves breaking on the rocks and beaches, and rain showers periodically pass over Monterosso al Mare.  This is not a good day to go hiking on the Cinque Terre trails, so we wander around the city for a while, taking in the beauty of the storm.

Stormy seas

One good thing to do on a stormy day is eat.  We settle in a dry spot and have glasses of local white wine and a few slices of focaccia.

Lunch

After lunch, we return to strolling through the city and admiring the power of the wind and the waves.  The beach umbrellas are all furled and the chairs are stacked and pulled way up to the top of the beach (although a few are picked up by waves and swept out into the sea).  We're here by ourselves in this spectacular manifestation of nature (everyone else is apparently smart enough to stay indoors).

Along the sea in the city

Looking up the coast

We're having a great day and a good break in the hiking.