Mercato Settimanale di Levanto
Every Wednesday morning the seafront town of Levanto — just one train stop north of Monterosso — fills with a lively weekly market that serves local farmers, fishermen and residents rather than tourists. It's the most authentic shopping experience within easy reach of the Cinque Terre, and a brilliant place to stock a picnic with regional produce.
What's on the Stalls
Arrive by 9 am to find the best selection: fat bunches of Ligurian basil destined for pesto, jars of house-pressed olive oil from the hillside groves above Levanto, fresh trofie pasta still dusted with flour, and wedges of Parmigiano-Reggiano trucked down from Parma. Fishmongers sell the morning's anchovies from Monterosso — the finest in Liguria — alongside octopus and clams still smelling of the sea.
Beyond food, the market spills along Via Jacopo da Levanto with stalls selling linen tablecloths, ceramic tiles painted with fish motifs, and practical work clothing that locals actually wear. Prices are a fraction of what you'd pay in the tourist boutiques of Vernazza.
Levanto Beyond the Market
Levanto itself deserves an hour of exploration after the market winds down around noon. The 13th-century striped marble church of Sant'Andrea anchors a compact medieval centre with intact loggia arcades, and the long sandy beach — rare in this rocky coastline — is ideal for a post-market swim.
The town is also the northern trailhead for the Alta Via delle Cinque Terre, a higher-level ridge path that offers spectacular views without the coastal crowds. Several excellent trattorias on Piazza del Popolo serve a weekday lunch menu (menù del giorno) for €12–15 — order the acciughe al limone, anchovies marinated in lemon juice, as a starter.
More of Cinque Terre (Liguria)
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Cinque Terre (Liguria) →
