Riomaggiore is the most characteristic of the Cinque Terre. It's sits at the head of a torrential valley. It's a vertical village, all stairs no streets. The dwellings are brightly colored tower houses. It boasts a tiny harbor. Riomaggiore has a number of interesting monuments including a defensive castle and two churches, San Giovanni Battista and Santa Maria Assunta. The most popular leg of the Sentiero Azzuro, known as the Via dell'Amore, starts in Riomaggiore.