photo credit: WikiItalia

EXPLORE STUNNING CINQUE TERRE ON THE ITALIAN RIVIERA

Cinque Terre is the series of 5 picturesque towns on the northern Italian Riviera in the region of Liguria. In English, the name translates literally to the 'five lands' and refer to the towns of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The scenery is dramatically beautiful with each town crazily built into a cliff face. 

So strikingly beautiful is this part of the world that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1997 and tourism has boomed since. The region was impacted by a series of flash floods in 2011, which heavily damaged Vernazza and Monterosso, but the area has since recovered and is now again fully functioning. 

While a relatively new phenomena for foreign tourism, the five villages of the Cinque Terre are steeped in history. Dating back from the early medieval period, Monterosso (the oldest of the five) was founded in 643 AD. 

Each of the towns are connected by a train line as well as a series of walking paths, and are therefore popular with hikers and those who like walking tours. You can also travel to most towns by boat. For the most part, cars were banned over a decade ago within each town, which attributes to the laid-back lifestyle. In the warmer months, it's all about strolling, tanning, swimming, eating and relaxing. 

Monterosso

The area's only resort-style town, Monterosso is the most populous and comes complete with hotels, cars (limited) and nightlife. The historic center is charming, dotted with food outlets and artisan boutiques. 

Riomaggiore

On the other hand, Riomaggiore is the least resort-style of the towns. A myriad of pastel-colored homes and buildings cradle the small port and it features a hilltop botanical garden. 

Manarola

Tiny, tiny Manarola is a breathtaking bundle of colorful buildings snaking around the cliff and down to the sea. It features the famous walking trail to Riomaggiore known as the Via dell'Amore (the Love Trail).

Corniglia

Rich in vineyards, Corniglia is known as the wine village of the five. As the only town not on the water, from the train station you'll have to climb around 400 stairs to reach the hilltop town. 

Vernazza

Without car traffic, Vernazza remains one of the most authentic fishing villages of the Italian Riviera. It really is the jewel of the Cinque Terre featuring weekly street markets, bars and an old castle. 

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