St Margherita Church, Vernazza Italy

It’s raining AGAIN. Back through the tunnel, back to the train, we are going to Vernazza this morning.  Vernazza literally fell into the Ligurian Sea in 2011 due to a huge mudslide in October of that year.  All reports now show progress and things are slowly getting back to business.  Unless you see the flood pictures (the before and after) you can’t appreciate the tough times Vernazza and its 500 citizens have been through. Every shop, restaurant and hotel on the main street had to be dug-out, re-wired, re-plumbed and re-equipped in 2012.  Here are pictures showing what Vernazza was up against.

Vernazza During the Flood

There are three ways to get around Cinque Terre; by foot, by train, or by boat.  This week the paths between the villages are closed for the most part.  There are mudslide warnings.  The sea is not co-operating either, much too rough to pull up and moor. So we are training again.  Our look at Vernazza on this rainy cold day, with it’s natural harbor, overseen by a ruined castle and a stout stone church.

New Main Street in Vernazza

The Harbor at Vernazza

The Remains of the Castle

The Hiking Path above Vernazza

The Harbor at Vernazza

A group of American women, who married into the community, organized a project which brought relief to their town in the immediate aftermath of the flood and is now an organization to help preserve and foster tourism.  For the latest on the town, the recovery and their activities visit. http://www.savevernazza.com.  Thanks!