A land between sea and high rocks, one of the most romantic and striking spots in the world: the Cinque Terre is a can’t miss destination for those who come to Italy.
The Cinque Terre is composed of five villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso.
The landscapes is so picturesque that has been an inspiration to lots of artists: poets, painters and writers. And I can clearly see why!
A national park, it is characterized by terraced agricultural land and colorful houses tumbling down cliffsides into the Mediterranean Sea. The area is home to some 4,000 inhabitants, but attracts around three million tourists every year, many of whom are day-trippers. But the villages, and hiking trails that unite them, deserve a longer visit.
See the colorful, cliff-hugging villages of this stunning stretch of coast and cruise across the water between Manarola, Riomaggiore and Vernazza.
How to get to Cinque Terre
The closest airports to Cinque Terre are in Pisa, Genova, Milan and Florence. You can reach the Cinque Terre from any of these cities by train or car, but no doubt, it is best reached by train. The closest airport is Pisa and it’s about a 1 hour 30 min train ride.
Getting around Cinque Terre
There are basically three ways to move from one village to another: walking, taking the train or the boat.
The walking trail is 12 kilometers and runs along the coast through all five villages, from Monterosso in the north to Riomaggiore in the south.
The train is a very easy and convenient way to get from village to village, and runs approximately three times an hour. Each of the five villages has small train stations that you can use. You will be able to purchase your train tickets from the train station easily. The cost of the single train ticket is 4€.
The boat runs less frequently, but I highly recommend taking it at least once, as the view from the sea gives you the possibility to appreciate the colourful buildings against the neutral backdrop of the hills.
Cinque Terre towns
Vernazza
Among the 5 villages of the Cinque Terre, Vernazza is the most characteristic, best known and most visited of all. There is no real ranking and each village is a story in itself. But Vernazza is undoubtedly a place to visit at least once in a lifetime.
Snuggled in the evocative coastline of Liguria, this town present an enchanting postcard of pastel colored tower homes, rocky beaches and quiet trails among the terraces covered in vineyards, olive trees and private gardens.
The life of this sea resort is harvested around the elegant square near the marina and Via Roma, the only true main street that connects the train station. All around an intricate series of vicoletti typical of the villages of Liguria hide details to photograph as well as a charm and a millenary history.
Riomaggiore
This is perhaps the most authentic village.
Riomaggiore is the largest village and sprawls along the steep hillsides. It has one main street, a harbor, a rocky beach, a castle and a church.
To get there from Manarola, you can either take the train or walk through “Via Dell’Amore”, which translates to the “street of love.” The path if flat and pave, and will only take about 30 minutes.
The village is famous for its restaurants, that offer some of the freshest seafood in the area. From the small rocky beach of Riomaggiore you’ll be also able to witness spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. And the most instagrammable sunset of the entire Cinque Terre!
Manarola
Built on a high rock 70 metres above sea level, is one of the most charming and romantic of the Cinque Terre villages.
The tiny harbor features a boat ramp, picturesque multicoloured houses facing the sea, a tiny piazza with seafood restaurants. The village is all ups and downs, with steep narrow alleys carrugi, leading to the sea.
If you want to venture up to the top of Manarola, make sure you check out the church. Today it serves as a religious and community meeting place, but in more ancient times, the bell tower was used as a post to watch for potential pirate raids.
Monterosso al Mare
Of the five villages that make up the Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare is the best-suited to a holiday. This is the largest of the Cinque Terre villages. It is set between Punta Mesco and Punta Manara on the rocky cliffs from which you can look down into the depths of the sea.
Tourists are not attracted to Monterosso al Mare for its monuments, but rather for the beautiful panoramas and everything the village has to offer. The brightly-coloured village centre is both aesthetically beautiful and practical at the same time with plenty of places to eat, drink and shop while the beaches come with crystalline water.
It is indeed a paradise for people who dream of a vacation in the heart of Italy in a lovely hotel with all comforts, and nightclubs and restaurants where they can spend the evenings.
Corniglia
Corniglia is the least known and the least visited of the five towns in Cinque Terre.
Visitors often skip it, discouraged by the lack of a port and rather difficult accessibility. While it is true that the town lacks the easy access to swimming and boating options you find in her coastal neighbors, Corniglia has a special charm and a distinct personality which is at the same time quintessentially Cinque Terre yet unique.
Perched on top of a high cliff, Corniglia overlooks the water and offers breathtaking views of the sea and Cinque Terre coast.
It is set on a cliff 100 meters above sea level, and the railway station is located in the lower part of the village. Corniglia can be reached on foot by climbing the staircase (382 steps) or with the bus that leaves every 10 minutes after arrival of the train.
If you have time, don’t miss the opportunity to go to this village! You will discover another Italy when you visit the friendly village of Corniglia.
I hope this post will be helpful on planning your trip to this beautiful region in Italy!
Your sincerely,
Anny