Cinque Terre is part of the Liguria region on the west coast of Italy, a harsh and gorgeous part of the Riviera. Cinque Terre literally means “The Five Lands”, comprising the villages of Vernazza, Corniglia, Riomaggiore, Manarola and Monterosso al Mare. The area is a more unusual destination choice than some better known spots in Italy and all the more enjoyable for that.
There is not a lot of modern development; instead, the charm is in the centuries-old townships and the terraces stretching and rolling down the hillside. At the bottom of the steep hills, the azure sea shines and sparkles — the landscape is the main attraction of a Cinque Terre vacation.
The topography necessitates in a most “Italian style” transport system, comprising boats, trains and well-worn paths, with cars mainly excluded from its boundaries. There are several transport options for access to the region. There is a train from La Spezia to Genoa, and also passenger ferries from Lerici, Portovenere, Genoa’s Old Harbour and La Spezia.
One thing you must do is walk the trails. For the moderately fit, the hike between the five villages is not too difficult. In fact, the only really difficult stretch is between Vernazza and Monterosso. The other walks are spectacular too, but are easier to handle for those feeling less than 100% fit. The more difficult the trail, the better views and less people, so we suggest walking between all the villages at some point.
You can stay in unusual apartments, unique villas and even staying with locals on a bed and breakfast arrangement. Things to do can include cooking classes, wine tours and lounging in the sun. The area also lends itself to hiking, swimming and simply relaxing and taking in the fantastic views and seascapes, which are mostly part of a national park. There’s a wide selection of delicious local food and wine to be sampled.
A Cinque Terre vacation has been featured on the Top Travel Content Europe, which is a great resource for similar “off the beaten track” European vacation suggestions.
Tags: cinque terre, Italy, vacation
