Visit Italy > Liguria > Cinque Terre
Visit Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre is a group of five villages set in scenic splendour on the cliffy coast of Liguria between La Spezia and Lvanto. The villages are called Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, and together they are now a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Much the best way to reach the region is on the train or boat from La Spezia, since parking at the villages themselves is both difficult and expensive. You can then use the little stopping train to move between the villages themselves.
The steep hills and cliffs around the villages are scattered with vineyards and olive trees, adding further to the appeal of the Parco Nazionale dell Cinque Terre as the region is now designated.
Close together, the villages of the Cinque Terre are spread over about 11 km of coastline, and are joined by a very pretty pathway (the Sentiero Azzurro) that hugs the cliff between the villages, and also by a small railway (but no road).
Each of the villages - (from east to west they are Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore) - has its own particular charm and its for you to decide your favourite. The little harbour at Vernazza should be on your list of possibilities!
Note that the footpath from Manarola to Riomaggiore is easy, but parts of the remaining pathway between the villages is less easy for the elderly and young children. If you are tackling the whole 11km path, it is much easier on the legs to walk from east to west (i.e. to start from Monterosso). Even between the hectic villages, you will usually find some calm (and a great deal of scenic beauty) along the way.
Access to the main footpath between the villages now requires a pass costing a few euros - a necessary measure to prevent overcrowding but money well spent.
The tourist offices in the Cinque Terre are well organised - as they need to be given the large number of visitors that arrive in the summer months - and are a good starting point if you want to walk or cycle in the region.
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