The Cinque Terre is postcard Italy

If you close your eyes and try and imagine an image of Italy in your mind, the buildings, the people, the landscape, the

sounds, the foods, then if you open them and you were in the Cinque Terre then you’d probably think you’d still had your eyes closed.

The five towns look as though they defy gravity for a start. As though someone has thrown a bunch of houses at the cliffs and somehow managed to get them to stick and form little towns. Located on the north-west coast of Italy in Liguria with the nearest big town being La Spezia, the Cinque Terre is one of the must-see places in Italy. It has enjoyed a decade of non-stop tourism but somehow hasn’t seemed to become spoilt at all. Yes there are more cameras on show in August here than there is mozzarella and wine, but it’s still nothing short of being paradise.

You can reach the towns via an under-the-mountain train from La Spezia. Once you’re there, you’ll be able to simply wander from town to town around a cliff-path that links the towns.

• Riomaggiore

If you come from south to north on the train from La Spezia, Riomaggiore is the first of the five towns you meet. You might find you don’t want to leave and see the other five once you arrive though. It’s simply breathtaking to look at. A steep street takes you from the station at the bottom, where boats bob on the water, to the top of the town. The way up is worth savoring though. Bar Centrale is where most, if not all, of the action happens but there’s cafés, ice cream parlors and little gifts shops as you climb. The surrounding hills are all dedicated to vineyards, as wine is top priority in this area.

• Manarola

Following the beautifully named pathway called Via dell’Amore you’ll arrive in Manarola before you know it. It’s probably the oldest town out of the five with a church that dates back to 1338. Although it’s one of the smaller towns, it actually has its own dialect and seems to have its own heritage that’s slightly more exclusive to the others.

• Corniglia

This one is the only one not actually at sea level. You climb the path of love to the cliff-top where it’s much more green and lush up in Corniglia. It’s a steep climb up the steps, but when you get up there you’ll see how important the vineyards are to the region. You’ll also benefit from seeing most of the other towns from up here too. It’s a good place for photographs.

• Vernazza

Then you come all the way back down the cliff to Vernazza, which is the most seaside of all the towns. There are no roads going through this town and so no cars. The preferred mode of transport for the locals here is boat. It’s the real fishing town of the Cinque Terre and they have the biggest bay and the best fish in the restaurants. So fresh you’ll have practically raced the fish to your plate.

• Monterosso al Mare

The last of the five towns is big enough to have a new and an old town and even a beach. But Monterosso itself is only 11km squared so it’s by no means big enough to house all the sunbathers in the summer months. Just like the other four, the town is famous for its wine, but it’s also got a special weapon of its own and that’s lemon groves. At the right time of year you’ll know they’re there by the smell.

Photo of small boats in Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy originally posted by antmoose

Topic:  General Travel | 1 Comment
Tags:  beach, Cinque Terre, Italy