From Floods to Flowers

The past five months have brought floods, landslides, mudslides, earthquakes, sea-storms and snowfall (as well as some spectacular sunsets) to Monterosso. Most streets of the historic section of the village were buried under meters of mud. The streets were ripped open, the underground channels emptied of tons of rocks and debris and then recovered. Shops were destroyed, livelihoods jeopardized, wills tested.

During the aftermath of the devastation of October 25th, the idea of recovery in time for the 2012 tourist season seemed impossible. Luckily, impossible is not in the Monterossino vocabulary. 

Vacations were forfeited, plans changed: a goal was set - by Easter 2012 (which marks the official opening of tourist season in the Cinque Terre), Monterosso would be open.

Volunteers and specialized workers were of enormous help during the first months. The generosity of many people from all over the world assured that the children of Monterosso would have a wonderful Christmas, even though most of them would be eating their holiday meals inside a portable army tent on plastic plates. Groups of locals banded together to clean the roads and clear the hiking trails.

Day and night people worked in the mud and dust to get the village ready for this weekend. Flowers have been planted, windows polished, benches sanded and repainted. The final touches are being made as the holiday tourists are slowly making their way into town.

October 25th 2011 will forever be remembered by Monterosso for the devastation that it brought. Easter 2012 will always remain in people's hearts because it will symbolize the accomplishments, determination and magnificent spirit of Monterosso and its residents. 

These pictures, some courtesy of www.buongiornomonterosso.com , were taken today in Monterosso. 

Via V. Emanuele

Piazza Garibaldi

The start of Via Roma

Ristorante Ciak

The first meal served since lunch, October 25th 2011

Via Roma

Via Roma's new look

Wheelbarrows- once filled with the mud from the flood, now with flowers

Enoteca Internazionale

Upper Via Roma

Upper Via V Emanuele

Pasticceria Laura - Where these people are sitting, a car was lodged, tail up, in the mud 5 months ago

Yum!

Piazza Matteotti and the start of Via Buranco

Il Carugio, located under street level, was one of the restaurants that had to be gutted and restored. 

The tourist info office

Villa Adriana- One of the hotels which had electricity and water during the aftermath and was of enormous help to the residents for weeks following the flood by sharing their food, water, bedrooms and showers with people in need. 

Come visit us in Monterosso, we are ready for you!

Monterosso has come very far in its recovery process but the road is still long and very expensive. If you would like to have an active role in the reconstruction of the village and leave a lasting mark in a special place, please sponsor our fund raising initiative. You can find out more info about it HERE. Thanks!

For information on open businesses, please see our Visitors' Info page HERE.

For information about traveling to and within Monterosso and the Cinque Terre, please see our page regarding Trails and Travel HERE.