 The ridges on either side of the valley thrust out into the sea as the headlands of Mesco and Levanto.The municipality forms part of the coastal district known as the Comunità Montana della Riviera Spezzina, and part of its territory is included in the Cinque Terre National Park.In Roman times there was already a small settlement there by the name of Ceula, an important nodal point due to its location and harbour.