In northwestern Italy, bathed by the waters of the Ligurian Sea, there is a region formed by five small coastal towns known as Cinque Terre.
The Cinque Terre are located in Liguria.They constitute a territory of the Ligurian coast where five villages are included: (from north to south) Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
They extend for eighteen kilometers along the coast between Punta Mesco, in the territory of Levanto, and Punta Montenero, located in the municipality of Riomaggiore.
The region has about 7,000 inhabitants and is protected as a national park in which nothing may be built or altered. In 1997, the Cinque Terre together with Porto Venere and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Cinque Terre area is a popular tourist destination.Cinema : In 2013 Cinque Terre was one of the shooting locations of the movie The Wolf of Wall Street by Martin Scorsese
Access : Coordinates: 44.119444, 9.716667 /
The easiest way to get to Cinque Terre from Florence is by train. You can also reach La Spezia (nearby city) with any means of transportation and from there take the train. Already being at any station in Cinque Terre or in La Spezia you can approach the Information Centers and there find out how to make the journey through these lands easier.
One recommendation is to get the Cinque Terre card for € 16. With it you can take the Levanto and La Spezia trains to Cinque Terre throughout the day, as well as the entrance to the Blue Trail.
By car : All the towns of Cinque Terre can be reached by car. But it should be noted that their streets are narrow and curvy. It is also difficult to get parking .So if you decide to go by car, better leave it in La Spezia or Levanto and then travel by train.
Get around : you can buy the Cinque Terre Card. This card gives access to regional trains and walking trails for € 12. it is cheaper to buy one-way tickets for trains, which do not usually cost more than € 2.40.
Regional trains: Most trains make stops at Riomaggiore, Monterosso, Levanto and La Spezia, but only some regional trains stop at Manarola, Corniglia and Vernazza. On the Trenitalia website you can find the complete schedules.
Shuttle bus : minibusses driving certain routes- Cinque Terre card, you can use these for free, otherwise, they cost 2.50 Euro per ride.Bus Routes:Riomaggiore – Monesteroli – Biassa – Telegrafo/
Manarola – Groppo – Cantina – Volastra/Corniglia Stazione (tagstationen) – Corniglia paese (centrum)/
Vernazza – Sant. Reggio – Drignana – Fornacchi – S. Bernardino – Murro – Vernazzola/Monterosso – Santuario di Soviore
A passenger ferry runs between the villages except Corniglia. The ferry also runs to Genoa’s Old Harbour, La Spezia, Lerici and Porto Venere.
Highlights : The 5 Villages of Le Cinque Terre:
- Monterosso al Mare , Monterosso is the largest town of Cinque Terre and, although the set of facades is not the most spectacular of all, it is worth getting lost in the streets of its historic center.
- Vernazza , This is the most picturesque town in the region thanks to its location and the beautiful colorful houses located on a cliff.
- Corniglia , With views of the sea, but without access to it, Corniglia is also situated on the rocks of a cliff. Surrounded by vineyards
- Manarola , The town of Manarola is one of the things to see in Cinque Terre,It is said to be the oldest of all and it is a true and romantic pleasure to stroll through its winding streets that flow into the sea
- Riomaggiore , Riomaggiore is the closest town to La Spezia. Stand by the sea and look up to marvel at a city that looks like it will fall from one moment to another towards the Mediterranean Sea.
Nature : - The Cinque Terre National Park offers countless opportunities, first of all the possibility of taking breathtaking excursions along the various paths,The most famous, and by far the most popular, is the famous Sentiero Azzurro , which runs along all five villages.You must purchase a pass if you hike the trail number 2 (blue), while no pass is required for the other trails
- Beaches , beaches are mainly concentrated in Monterosso, in Framura and Bonasola just 20 minutes away by the train ,You can swim off rocks at the small harbors at Manarola , and Riomaggiore and Corniglia’s small harbor ,There are two large sandy beaches at Monterosso, a small sandy beach at the harbor of Vernazza/ Fegina beach / Guvano nudist-beach
- The magnificent coastal roads between The villages, whose colorful houses sit on the cliffs and ravines of this rugged coast, The train journey itself is an attraction, as it traverses the region in an impressive tunnel route by the sea.
- Gastronomic tourism, gastronomic tourism is also very developed, thanks to the typical productions of the local land. grapevines , olive oil, fish – On the table of the five coastal villages you can taste the typical dishes of Ligurian cuisine like pesto Genoese ,the famous salted anchovies from Riomaggiore and fish-based specialties , Even in the wine industry, the Cinque Terre are famous. The most popular wines are the Bianco 5 Terre and above all the Sciachetra, a passito wine obtained from the fermentation of grapes left to dry on pylons and which is the commercial symbol of these lands, unique and produced only in this territory.
Activities : Scenic Driving- Auto Touring / Nature Viewing / photo opportunities / Hiking along the Coastal Tracks / Swimming / Cinque Terre excursions.
Tip : Cinque Terre Card includeds : All hiking paths , Free Wi-Fi , Free use of the shuttle buses.
Go next :Bonassola / Rapallo / La Spezia / Sarzana / Lerici / Santa Margherita Ligure / Moneglia / Savona / Seborga / Apricale / Albenga / Sestri Levante / Portofino / Genova
