Scalinata Lardarina

Corniglia's Lardarina is a historic brick staircase of 33 switchback ramps connecting the village with the railway station below.

Why it matters

Corniglia is the only Cinque Terre village set inland and above the sea. The Lardarina became an important link between the settlement and the railway after the coastal line opened in the nineteenth century. Its long, stepped form reflects the terrain and is part of Corniglia's identity.

What to notice

The staircase is built in brick and arranged in 33 flights of switchbacks. Sources differ over the total number of steps, giving figures of 377 and 382. Its landings and turns follow the steep slope above the station, beside vineyards and dry-stone terraces.

Context and history

Corniglia's elevated position supported both defence and agriculture. Until the railway reached the coast in the 1870s, the Cinque Terre was commonly approached by sea. The station created a land connection below the village, and the Lardarina provided the final vertical link. A road was later cut alongside the staircase for vehicles.