Cinque Terre

So you have seen the big cities, and now it is time for some fresh air. Cinque Terre is the perfect place to get the small-town feel and become one with nature. If hiking is your think you have come to the right place.

Located in and around vineyards and olive groves, this area is noted for its natural beauty and a great part of its charm comes from the lack of visible “modern” development. The only way to get around in this area is on foot, by boat, or by train.

The Basics Info Point – Viale Mazzini 47 19100 La Spezia. #0187 770900/ 0187 920633 Train – La Spezzia-Monterosso line Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre

The Five Villages

The Five Villages that make up the Cinque Terre, from south to north are:

• – The he road from Riomaggiore to Manarola is called the Via Dell’Amore (Lovers Walk) and varies in difficulty from an easy stroll to a rough and physically challenging hike.
• – The stretch from Manarola to Corniglia is the easiest to hike, although the main trail into Corniglia finishes with a rather intense climb of somewhere around 368 stairs.
• – The trail from Corniglia to Vernazza can be a bit challenging and is a bit steep in a few places.
• – The trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is by far the steepest. It winds through olive orchards and vineyards and is a bit rough in places, but offers the best view of the bay and the spectacular approaches to both Monterosso and Vernazza.
• - Once you get here you can do it all over again on foot, or just take the train back to La Spezia, and then you are off to your next adventuresome destination.

Levanto is the next town north of the Cinque Terre. Portovenere, to the south, is also a well known Italian tourist resort town.

Getting There

Train The train is the easiest way to get to the Cinque Terre. From Genoa (Genova), take the local train toward La Spezia and get off at your destination, or take the express directly to La Spezia and the local back to your Cinque Terra destination. From La Spezia, take the local (“Regionale“) train toward Sestre Levante, stopping at your destination. Riomaggiore is the first stop after La Spezia. Plane The nearest airports are the “Cristoforo Colombo” international airport in Genoa and the “Galileo Galilei” international airport in Pisa. Boat The Consorzio Marittimo Turistico runs summer boats from La Spezia to the Cinque Terre as well as excursions along the coast. See their website for more. Car While it is possible to get to Cinque Terre’s 5 villages by car, it isn’t recommended by travelers who’ve tried it. As in Venice, there is no use for a car once you’re there. There is daily parking in Riomaggiore and Monterosso.

The Cinque Terre Card

The Cinque Terre Card is a good idea if you are thinking on doing it all. It costs about 5 euro and will save you some cash in the long run. There are multiple options available: you can get a day pass or a multi-day pass. Find out more about the various options: Cinque Terre Card.