Touring Italy's Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre ("five lands") is a series of villages clinging to a remote stretch of the northern Italian Riviera coastline. The rugged villages of the Cinque Terre, founded centuries ago by medieval locals hiding out from marauding pirates, were long cut off from the modern world. Today the small coastal villages, linked by train, ferry, and spectacular walking trails, draw thousands of hikers and tourists each year and is a perfect unique destination for the independent traveler.
The Cinque Terre area, now a national park, preserves the character of the region, its people and lifestyle. The Cinque Terre... nowhere else does the atmosphere of the Mediterranean, Italy, and local village life combine so potently to lure the adventurous independent traveler than the Cinque Terre region of Italy. With its miles and miles of breathtaking trails, the Cinque Terre along northern Italy's Riviera has long been a magnet for hikers. Today the five villages of the Cinque Terre maintain their ancient feel, and they exist in an isolation that guarantees quietness and peace in the spectacular environment which keeps them unique and a wonderful place to holiday.
This area of Liguria covers a rocky and steep coast of 15 kilometres from Levanto to La Spezia, and while trekking through the five villages is certainly a backpacker's dream — each town is a unique destination carved rather amazingly into the steep terraced-vineyard coastline — that shouldn't preclude lesser walkers from heading to this famously charming coastal region. In fact, the way to truly experience what this small area of Italy has to offer is by getting off those well-trodden paths and spend some time absorbing the atmosphere and the hospitality of the Cinque Terre. It's almost unfair how much intense beauty, great cuisine and amazing aromas are packed into such a compact space along the Cinque Terre and into the surrounding countryside. The narrow and often steep alleyways lead to a range of comfortable accomodation choices suitable for most budgets. Most popular are the family run apartments, bed and breakfast and small hotel rooms for rent, and the more substantial private villas available in the nearby countryside.
Today the five villages of the Cinque Terre maintain their ancient feel, and they exist in an isolation that guarantees quietness and peace in the spectacular environment which keeps them unique and a wonderful place to holiday.
During the summer a daily ferry service links the villages of the Cinque Terre region with the port of Genoa in the north and Rome to the south. A train system connects all these destinations, with similar rail links to Milan and Florence. There is also a convenient coastal train system specifically linking the villages of the Cinque Terre. Some naieve travellers try to see a lot of the Cinque Terre all in one day. Wise people book well ahead and plan a leisurely few days to truly experience what each of the small villages have to offer, planning one or two days in each location to get an insight into daily life, and fully experience the moods and character of the places and the local people. With increasing tourist attention to the area, many wise independent travelers are planning their visits away from the peak summer tourist season, making full use of local bed and breakfast style accomodation, or booking into a network of homes along the way that have comfortable rooms available to cater for the independent traveler. The more flexible you are, the more you can take your time to experience all that this exciting region has to offer.
If you have ever longed to experience the atmosphere, hospitality, culture and ancient history of the villages in the Cinque Terre now is the time to plan your next adventure. Our Global Wanderer's website offers an assortment of information, travel tips and useful links about traveling to the Cinque Terre. Please plan your trip through the tarvel and accomodation links here and use our comment system to add your own unique information. Enjoy!
Comments:
"Maybe the most beautiful time to visit Cinque Terre is May - it is warm like summer already, but not too hot yet, and there is this wonderful spring vegetation, lots of beautiful colourful flowers everywhere, especially if you take a stroll along one of the many hiking trails, say, the Love Path - La Via dell'Amore ;)"
- Amalie Dargent, 22/11/07
"Planning your time in the Cinque Terre can make the difference between spacious relaxation and fighting for a spot at the beach. Because of the Cinque Terre's proximity to Germany and other Italian cities, it has become a popular weekend trip for German and Italian tourists (not to mention Americans on vacation). Try to plan your visit on a weekday, when many of the day trippers are still at work."
- Michael Burt, 22/11/07
"Monterosso is the northernmost and largest village of the Cinque Terre. It has the best sandy beaches and the most shops and accomodations. The village consists of two parts which are linked by a tunnel. The coastal path between Monterosso and Vernazza is my opinion the most scenic and the most demanding part of the 4 paths."
- Adam Horscheck, 22/11/07
"The quaint village of Vernazza is probably the "Pearl of the Cinque Terre". It is located in a spectacular bay with a natural stone pier and harbour. The medieval church and the narrow alleyways just create the typical coastal village atmosphere. Both coastal paths to Corniglia and Monterosso are physically demanding."
- Adam Horscheck, 22/11/07
"I tell people who email me that the CT is not for everyone and I would not even consider visiting it during the months of June, July and August, there are just too many people. It becomes a quaint village again sometime in late September."
- Joe Vittoe, 22/11/07
