The iconic Cinque Terre coastline in Liguria, a summer magnet for travellers drawn to its pastel-coloured villages and cliffside trails, faces a mounting threat from rising seas. A new analysis published in Remote Sensing warns that by 2150, the region could experience waves of over 13 metres during extreme storms, with relative sea level rise ranging from 0.60 to 1.17 metres.
The study, led by Marco Anzidei of Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) and Alessandro Bosman of the Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering (IGAG-CNR), focused on the most exposed areas around the villages of Monterosso and Vernazza. Using the latest climate projections from the IPCC, the researchers found a clear non-stationary trend in sea level rise, confirming the growing vulnerability of low-lying coastal stretches.
Infrastructure at Risk
“Our work has highlighted that, in extreme events, the most sensitive areas are small beaches and low-lying port areas,” Anzidei and Bosman told Italian media. They added that under the most pessimistic climate scenario, the strongest storm surges could produce waves exceeding 13 metres, posing potential risks to the railway line that threads through the Cinque Terre National Park. This railway is a vital transport link for both residents and the millions of tourists who visit each year.
The study underscores the vulnerability of beaches, docks, port areas, and tourism infrastructure. As sea levels rise, even moderate storms could cause flooding that disrupts daily life and the local economy, which relies heavily on seasonal visitors. The findings echo broader concerns across Mediterranean coasts, where climate change is accelerating erosion and inundation.
Adaptation Measures Urged
Beyond diagnosing the risks, the research offers concrete recommendations for land-use planning and coastal risk reduction. The starting point, the scientists urge, is targeted adaptation of specific locations, including “adjusting the heights of docks, improving drainage systems, and protecting infrastructure and tourism-related services.”
The Cinque Terre National Park has already begun developing a climate change adaptation plan. A key measure is the maintenance and preservation of the region’s historic stone walls, which are essential for hydrogeological stability, especially as weather events become more frequent and violent. These terraces, carved into the steep hillsides over centuries, also sustain the area’s renowned agricultural landscape, including vineyards and olive groves.
“Maintaining our cliffs and docks is a complex issue that requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving the scientific community, local stakeholders, communities and local institutions,” said Lorenzo Viviani, president of the Cinque Terre National Park, in comments to local press.
The challenges facing Cinque Terre are part of a wider pattern across Europe, where coastal regions from the Mediterranean to the North Sea are grappling with sea level rise and extreme weather. As the continent warms faster than the global average, adaptation is no longer a future concern but an urgent present-day necessity.
