Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy 9 Jun 2026

Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy

Vernazza is a small seaside town in Cinque Terre, in Italy"s Liguria region. Built around the area"s only natural harbour, it has long been tied to the sea. First recorded in 1080 as a fortified settlement and maritime base, it later became part of the Republic of Genoa"s coastal defences. To this day, the village preserves its past in the ruins of Doria Castle and the watchtowers overlooking the bay. At the water"s edge stands the Church of Santa Margherita d"Antiochia, first mentioned in 1318 and expanded in later centuries, with a bell tower overlooking the port. Above the houses and narrow lanes, steep terraces support vineyards and olive groves, shaped by generations of stonework in a landscape protected within Cinque Terre National Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Picture an aperitivo here: a glass of local white wine, the harbour in view and Ligurian favourites like focaccia and basil pesto—basically a postcard you can taste.

© Kelly Cheng/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Rising with the sun
A longstanding ode to love
9 Jun 2024Bardenas Reales Biosphere Reserve and Natural Park, Navarra, Spain
9 Jun 2025Old City of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia, Croatia

More Desktop Wallpapers:

28 Jun 2026Saguaro cacti, Windgate Pass, Arizona, United States
20 Jun 2026Arched iceberg, western Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean
27 Sep 2023Via Krupp, Capri, Italy
7 Nov 2023Kirkilai lakes, Biržai Regional Park, Lithuania
1 May 2025Lei Day
10 Sep 2024Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal
23 Feb 2024Haghartsin Monastery, Armenia
24 Jun 2024Kelimutu, Flores, Indonesia
25 Oct 2023Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA
London calling
10 Oct 2024Ancient town of Sorano, Tuscany, Italy
18 Jun 2026The ruins of Sacsayhuamán, Cusco, Peru
19 May 2026Chelsea Flower Show
29 Dec 2025St Gregory Church in Ani Ruins, Kars, Türkiye
Warm light through an ancient forest
23 Mar 2024World Meteorological Day
15 Dec 2024Lake Misurina, Dolomites, Italy
25 Aug 2025Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
17 Feb 2025Jorvik Viking Festival
19 Mar 2026Short-beaked echidna, Adelaide Hills, Australia
14 Feb 2025Happy Valentines Day!
17 Aug 2025International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
Mountains of sand
Race to the finish
5 Dec 2024Tufa formation on Mono Lake, California, United States
Pier perfect
14 Jan 2025Village of Zahara de la Sierra, Cadiz, Spain
Crystal clear
Icon of the Highlands
Creating a better world