Cinque Terre
Known and beloved all over the world, the Cinque Terre is the most famous stretch of coast of the entire Liguria. It consists of five little villages nestled between seas and mountains, holding on to steep cliffs and overlooking the crystal-clear waters of the Ligurian Sea. We are talking about traditional fishing villages encircled by Mediterranean scrub and “heroic” vineyards. Here man has collaborated with nature to create one of the most amazing landscapes in our country.
How to get there
CAR:
By car, the recommended highway exit is La Spezia. From there you need to follow signs for Cinque Terre.
TRAIN:
By train you can easily travel between the villages: regional trains stop at every station from Monterosso to Riomaggiore. The routes are frequent and even more numerous in the summer.
BOAT:
Lastly, you can travel by boat: the main departure ports are La Spezia, Lerici and Porto Venere. From Sestri Levante the most convenient means to reach the Cinque Terre is definitely the train. Alternatively, in the summer months you can take the boat provided by the Tigullio Marine Service.
The most beautiful trails
Once you’ve reached the Cinque Terre, you can travel between the villages by train or, if you love hiking, by walking along the numerous trails of the Cinque Terre National Park. Indeed, there are 120 km of trails inside. Unfortunately, not all trails are accessible all the time, so it’s recommended that you check in advance at one of the info points in the Park or on Cinque Terre Hiking Guide, website and app downloadable for iOS and Android. Among the most beautiful trails to hike we suggest the following.
SENTIERO AZZURRO (“the blue trail”, itinerary 592)
It’s a 12 km-long path that connects Monterosso to Riomaggiore by way of the other three villages.
SENTIERO DELL’AMORE (“the path of love”, trail 592 – 1)
The stretch of path that connects Riomaggiore to Manarola. It’s currently closed because of a landslide and the reopening is scheduled for 2023.
ALTA VIA DELLE CINQUE TERRE (“the Cinque Terre high path”, AV5T)
An alternative to the Sentiero Azzurro that connects Portovenere to Levanto by passing through the entire Park.
VIA DEI SANTUARI (“the sanctuaries trail”)
An itinerary on the hillside that connects the main Sanctuaries of the Park.
What to see
There are really many things to see when visiting the Cinque Terre. Indeed, besides the natural wonders that you can admire while walking along the paths in the Park, the area preserves a great amount of historical and artistic evidence that is especially interesting. It’s important to remember that the Cinque Terre area has been inhabited since prehistoric times: for example, there is proof of this in the Grotta dei Colombi on the Palmaria island. Then the Romans came, and testimony can be seen in Portovenere. Lastly, the first documented stories about the villages of the Cinque Terre as they are known today date back to the 11th century. Lastly there’s Riomaggiore. The houses here climb uphill along the stream. It’s interesting to know that all of the houses were built with two entrances in order to escape Saracen raids. Among the monuments to visit we suggest the Church of San Giovanni Battista and the Cerricò Castle to admire the landscape. By walking along a few paths you can reach the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Montenero. Whereas if you follow the road along the cliffs you will reach a little beach: if you practice scuba diving, the small port is the meeting point to go and discover the Cinque Terre Protected Marine Area.
Lastly, before leaving the Cinque Terre, it’s essential that you have a taste of the local cuisine. All of the restaurants in the area offer traditional Ligurian dishes, but you definitely have to try the excellent Monterosso salted anchovies and the rice cake. To go with your meal we suggest a nice glass of the white wine Cinque Terre Bianco DOC or of the famous Sciacchetrà.
Monterosso
Monterosso is the first village of the Cinque Terre you will encounter coming from Sestri Levante. The village is split in two by the gallery of the old railway: on one side, the new village with the beach overlooked by the enormous Statue of the Giant and characterized by a large rock in the sea; on the other side, the old village with its colourful houses and narrow alleys. Montale particularly liked Monterosso and indeed a Literary Park is dedicated to him. During the visit we suggest visiting the Church of San Giovanni, the Castle and the Aurora Tower, the only one that’s left of the 13 towers that stood to defend the village.
Vernazza once was the main port for the ships of the Republic and today it’s perhaps the most romantic of the Cinque Terre. The visit can only start from the little port and the Church of Santa Maria di Antiochia, and then continue along the narrow alleys and the steep stairs that will take you to the Doria Castle, from which you can enjoy a gorgeous view.
Corniglia
Corniglia is the only one of the five villages that doesn’t directly overlook the sea. In order to reach the centre you need to “climb” the Lardarina, a staircase made of 33 flights and 377 steps. But once you’ve reached the top, the quiet, little village will be worth the effort. You have to visit the Parrocchia di San Pietro and the Oratory of Santa Caterina. Whereas if you wish to take a dip, going to the public beach “Spiaggione” is a must: it’s approximately 700 metres long and it’s washed by crystal-clear water.
The next stop is Manarola, whose houses seem to come directly out of the rock and to hold on to it all the way down to the sea. All around there’s a large area with terraced olive groves and vineyards. In the upper part of the village you can’t miss the Church of San Lorenzo with its Bell Tower. Manarola is famous for the world’s largest Luminous Nativity Scene which is turned on every year on December 8th.
Riomaggiore
Lastly there’s Riomaggiore. The houses here climb uphill along the stream. It’s interesting to know that all of the houses were built with two entrances in order to escape Saracen raids. Among the monuments to visit we suggest the Church of San Giovanni Battista and the Cerricò Castle to admire the landscape. By walking along a few paths you can reach the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Montenero. Whereas if you follow the road along the cliffs you will reach a little beach: if you practice scuba diving, the small port is the meeting point to go and discover the Cinque Terre Protected Marine Area.