Cinque Terre is undeniably one of the most beautiful areas of Italy; a visit to just one of its towns will confirm this. Cinque Terre was just made to grace picture postcards. Located in northwest Italy, its five towns are built on steep hills and atop high cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean. It doesn’t get much more scenic than this.
Most towns are reachable only by train. Comfortable walking shoes are a must since cars aren’t allowed in the older sections of these towns. Visiting the Cinque Terre villages is not only exercise for the body, but exercise for the soul.
Things to do in Cinque Terre
Vernazza
Vernazza (Latin: Vulnetia) is a town and comune located in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northwestern Italy. It is one of the five towns that make up the Cinque Terre region. Vernazza is the fourth town heading north, has no car traffic, and remains one of the truest "fishing villages" on the Italian Riviera.
After devastating flooding and mudslides in 2011, Vernazza has reclaimed its reputation as the most picturesque town in Cinque Terre. This small fishing village is loaded with charm. Not only that, but it has the best harbor in the Cinque Terre.
The picture-postcard village sits atop a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a great place to explore by foot – indeed, foot is the only way as cars aren’t permitted on the narrow streets that are marked with frequent steps. Walking between Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare is a special treat for visitors; the hike takes about 90 minutes.
How to get there?
By a milk train from Genova or La Spezia: these used to deliver mail and milk, but now are used for the touristic purposes and are really fun. It also provides a very scenic ride passing cliffs, tunnels and olive trees.
The Italian Riviera, or Ligurian Riviera (Italian Riviera ligure) is the narrow coastal strip which lies between the Ligurian Sea and the mountain chain formed by the Maritime Alps and the Apennines. Longitudinally it extends from the border with France and the French Riviera (or Côte d'Azur) near Ventimiglia (a former customs post) to Capo Corvo (also known as Punta Bianca) which marks the eastern end of the Gulf of La Spezia and is close to the border with Tuscany. The Italian Riviera thus includes nearly all of the coastline of Liguria. (Historically it extended further to the west, through what is now French territory as far as Monaco.)
The riviera's centre is Genoa, which divides it into two main sections: the Riviera di Ponente (“the coast of the setting sun”), extending westwards from Genoa to the French border; and the Riviera di Levante (“the coast of the rising sun”) between Genoa and Capo Corvo.