The first settlers founded their hamlets in the hills above the Cinque Terre a thousand years ago, probably around the 10th century. They were mostly inhabitants of the Val di Vara, who, following the demographic growth and to save themselves from epidemics, climbed the mountain and created agricultural villages above the sea, at the height of today’s sanctuaries: Soviore, Reggio, San Bernardino, Volastra and Montenero.
Soils were morphologically unsuitable for cultivation due to their steepness, but the climate was better than the hinterland, which made it possible to cultivate vines and olive trees. To overcome the first problem, terracing was created through the construction of dry stone walls along the coast, which today cover an area of about 7,000 km (on just 14 km of coastline!).