Monterosso al Mare, famous throughout the world, is an ancient seaside village nestled between Punta Mesco and the island of Tinetto. It is the least rugged and steep village of the Cinque Terre, and its position close to the hills covered with vineyards and olive groves surrounds the village as if in an embrace. Its beautiful beach, the largest in the Cinque Terre and the only sandy one, the marvellous cliffs and the crystal-clear waters of the sea make this village one of the most evocative on the eastern Ligurian coast. Its old town, with its narrow streets that smell of salt, is very characteristic and entirely pedestrianised. It has inspired poets and writers, including Eugenio Montale, who spent most of his life here.