Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy May 19, 2024

Perched on the rugged cliffs of the Italian Riviera, Vernazza is one of the five villages of the Cinque Terre area of northwestern Italy. Here, ancient buildings stand along the coastline of the Ligurian Sea, and life is filled with the hustle and bustle of the fishing industry. Vernazza got its name from the indigenous wine, "vernaccia," meaning "local" or "ours." One of the best-known monuments in the area is the medieval Doria Castle, built as a defensive fortress to protect the village from frequent pirate attacks. Thanks to the construction of the Genoa–La Spezia rail line in the 19th century, the village became more accessible by land. The car-free cobblestone streets are ideal for walking around. While here, you might want to visit the Chapel of Santa Marta and the Sanctuary of Madonna di Reggio. Vernazza is sometimes described as the pearl of the Cinque Terre with its natural port, colorful houses, and green terraces overlooking a sparkling sea.

© Roberto Moiola/Sysaworld/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

May 19, 2018At ease, it’s Armed Forces Day
May 19, 2019High trekking season in Upper Mustang
May 19, 2020Loud waters
May 19, 2021A path lain with petals
May 19, 2022Glass footbridge in Zhangjiajie, China
May 19, 2023Endangered Species Day
May 19, 2025Mount Hamilton, near San Jose, California

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 25, 2025Tolkien Reading Day
May 26, 2024Methow Valley, North Cascades, Washington
Sep 16, 2018Mexico celebrates its Independence Day
Dec 4, 2024Wildlife Conservation Day
Apr 11, 2026Papagayo Beach, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Oct 4, 2025World Space Week
Sep 27, 2025Astronomy Day and National Public Lands Day
Nov 5, 2020A medieval Moorish gem
Oct 2, 2019Wild scene on the Merced River
Apr 18, 2025International Day for Monuments and Sites
Aug 27, 2022Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Oct 27, 2019A festival of lights in India
Mar 25, 2024Happy Holi!
Mar 31, 2018Cherry blossoms at the National Mall, Washington, DC
Aug 9, 2021A tribute to the ancestors
Oct 8, 2024World Octopus Day
Jul 22, 2025Badlands National Park in South Dakota
Feb 10, 2026Es Vedrà and Es Vedranell, Ibiza, Spain
Mar 10, 2026Bláhver, Hveravellir, Iceland
Jul 15, 2018GOAL!
Dec 2, 2019Wild and beautiful Alaska
Jan 4, 2024Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
Feb 17, 2020Happy Presidents Day
Dec 20, 2024Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Mar 29, 2024South Stack Lighthouse, Holy Island, Wales
Feb 8, 2018The Cordillera de la Sal in the Cordillera Domeyko Range of Chile
Mar 8, 2025International Womens Day
Oct 12, 2025Village of Saranac Lake, New York
Jul 5, 2019Peel Castle on St. Patrick’s Isle with the Isle of Man in the background
Feb 1, 2018Stuben am Arlberg, Austria