Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre - five fishing villages on the Ligurian coast - Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, audaciously balance over the sea. Formerly accessible only by sea or by a series of cliff-skirting footpaths, the villages have retained much of their original charm. While nowadays they are far from undiscovered, they remain unspoiled and form part of a protected National Park and Marine Area. Generations of the villages’ citizens have built and maintained steep, dry stone-walled terraces that slope down to the sea. Vineyards, olive groves and citrus trees populate the landscape, the only one of its kind in the world.
High cliffs reaching down to the sea hide minute shingle beaches at Riomaggiore and Vernazza or tiny ports like Manarola where sunbathers mix with fishermen. Monterosso has a large sandy beach, with beach clubs and facilities. Corniglia, the only village not on the sea, nestles on a hill surrounded by vineyards and offers fabulous views of the coastline. Between Corniglia and Vernazza lies the nudist beach, Guvano, only reachable on foot.
The Cinque Terre are still best reached by train or boat, although a windy often precarious road does exist. Exploring is best done by foot.
Take the train from Pontremoli, Aulla or Villafranca to Riomaggiore and walk the famous Via del Amore (Lovers Way) that skirts the cliff over to Manarola. (30 minutes) If you’re feeling energetic, you can continue on to Monterosso – a 5 hour walk – or take the train in any of the villages if you get tired along the way. Several other walks crisscross the surrounding countryside and the National Park provides route maps.
Tickets for the coastal walks cost €5 euro for the day and are available at checkpoints along the way or from the National Park’s offices, located at the railway station in each of the five villages. All proceeds go to the upkeep of the paths.
After an enjoyable day’s walking or swimming, have an aperitif in cosmopolitan Vernazza and sample the award-winning wines of the region. Taste the famous Monterosso anchovies or Manarola’s clams. Climb up to the sanctuary in Corniglia and marvel at the multi-coloured mosaic of houses over in Manarola and Riomaggiore. But don’t miss the train or boat back! Accommodation is difficult to find during the summer months and should always be booked ahead.
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