Riomaggiore Live Cam

Origins and Early Settlement

Nestled at the southern gateway of the Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore bears the imprint of ancient settlers who harnessed the rugged Ligurian coastline for defense and sustenance. Archaeological evidence suggests that Bronze Age communities first exploited the rocky promontory, but it was under the maritime Republic of Genoa in the 12th century that Riomaggiore emerged as a fortified fishing village. Local chroniclers refer to the earliest mention of “Riomaggiore” in 1239, when it joined the Lega Marinese alongside its sister villages, trading fresh anchovies and robust olive oil in return for Genoese protection.