Italy: Cinque Terre
japra | Aug 27, 2010 | Comments 25
This is a continuation of our trip to France and Italy in April. If you missed my previous posts, you can click here for: Nice, Antibes, Cannes, and Monaco. Next week, I’ll finish up this series with two more posts: Pisa/Lucca and Florence.
Cinque Terre is a collection of five villages situated along the Italian Riviera: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare. For a short introduction to the area, you can read Rick Steve’s article here.
We walked from Riomaggiore to Vernazza, where we decided the town was too beautiful to hurry on to the last village. Instead, we stayed there to rest our feet, enjoy the sunset and eat a delicious dinner.
For those of you who might be wondering, we used La Spezia as the base for this Italian leg of our trip because it was close enough to Cinque Terre and the other cities we were interested in visiting. This was very convenient, but I should warn you that the trains were often late and sometimes cancelled (not just in La Spezia!). So just be aware of that, especially if you’re counting on that last train home.
Also, we were there in April. It was hot during the day but surprisingly chilly after sunset. A light fleece pullover in your daypack would be a good idea!
As for the Cinque Terre trail itself, the leg between Riomaggiore and Manarola is nicely paved and a very easy 40-ish minute stroll. After Manarola, the trail gets quite rugged, so be sure you have decent hiking shoes (or trainers at the very least). Walking sticks would be nice, if you have them. Lastly, be sure to carry enough water and a few snacks. I think it’s easy to forget that this is a real hiking trail versus an easy amble between towns.
I’m going to leave the rest of this post wordless. If you have any questions, please do leave them in the comments and I’ll be happy to answer them if I can!
Riomaggiore to Manarola
Manarola to Corniglia
Corniglia to Vernazza
Vernazza
Filed Under: Blog • Destinations • Featured • Italy • Outdoors • What to Do
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
Ok. These are amazing. I have to add to my long list of places I really have to go and see.
Out of all of the places we visited on this trip, Cinque Terre was our favourite. A must!
Love it! These pics are great! Isn’t it just one of the best places? The colors, wine, and pesto were amazing!!
We loved it, Sara, and would go back in a heartbeat. Next time, I’d like to stay in Vernazza one night and walk to Monterosso al Mare. Have you been to all of the Cinque Terre villages? If yes, which one was your favourite?
Goodness JAPRA. My sisters and I have just decided to go back to europe next summer. Cinque Terre is right on the list. So far we’re going to visit: Florence, Cinque Terre, Marseilles and then Barcelona!!! These photos could not have come at a better time. STUNNING!
You. Are. Going. To. Love. It.
You are! What a fantastic sister trip you have planned!!
These pictures are amazing. The one with the houses with the water at the bottom. Wow! I love the shots of the streets with the buildings so close to each other. When I go to Europe (one day) I think I’m going to lose my mind.
Julia, do you have a list of places you want to visit? I would definitely rank this walk high up on my list of faves.
I hope your “one day” will be “one day really soon”!
wow wow wow these are fantastic shots!!!
i am getting on a plane right now so i can stare at that hillside of pastel cliffhouses – stunning!!
did you get to portofino? i think your shots of vernazza are actually even more beautiful
Oh, we never got to Portofino… but there is always next time :-) (and there will definitely be a next time!)
We never got past Vernazza either. But really, really want to go back! These pictures bring back a lot of neat memories.
Kathy, I’m ready to go back too. Is tomorrow too soon?
thanks for sharing your breathtaking photos, I’m just going ‘oh my goodness’…but I see what you mean by ‘hiking trails’. I’d like to do what Lucylucia is doing.
Christine, you wouldn’t have any trouble on these trails. You’re in such good shape!
Lucylucia’s sister trip does sound amazing! They seem like a darling bunch :-)
I’ve never been to Italy yet, but these places seem really wonderful. Any place with a seasight goes for me, anyway. :-) Very interesting the remarks cut in the plants. I’ve never seen something like this.
Judith, Italy is so nice. Ah, well, there are so many beautiful places in the world… and you live in one of them!
Isn’t that funny about the carved cactus? Apparently amorous graffiti isn’t banned in that area ;-)
I got to visit Cinque Terre in May 2009 while spending a month working in Pisa. It was amazing! Glad you liked it too! looking forward to the Pisa/Lucca and Florence post. I must admit I really liked Siena too! You should visit :)
Oh my, Siena is definitely on my list. I really want to go back to Tuscany and stay in one place for a week or even a weekend. I feel like some of these places, especially Pisa and Florence, is so overrun with tourist junk. It must have been an amazing experience to work in Pisa for a month. Lucky you!
Simply amazing! I’m in love already :D
A question: what are those things hanging from the railing?
Fantastic views!!
Aledys, you have sharp eyes! They are Love Padlocks, do you remember them from my Cologne post? If you and your sweetie visit, perhaps you can leave one too ;-)
http://www.justaplanerideaway.com/2009/12/padlocks-of-love-in-koln-germany.html
You have to be in good shape in order to walk to the top of those hills. Fantastic photos, as always b.t.w
Anita, I think it does help to be fairly sure-footed to do this hike. There were some places that were a little challenging, but it’s not too bad. We were a little unprepared water-wise, which was really dumb…
Thank you for your kind words!
I keep looking at all your photos again and again. I cannot decide which I like best. I want to inhale them!
I know what you mean, Mimsy! I wish we could play Mary Poppins and step right into the photo. Meet you there!
Wow! How funny – I thought that said it all but the comment police found that one word too short.