It’s hard to pick the most breathtaking spot in a country full of them, but this is one part of Italy that will truly wow you into submission. On the coast of the Italian Riviera, in the Liguria region, Cinque Terre or “The Five Lands” comprises a quintet of quaint villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The stunning and jaw-dropping architectural beauty of Cinque Terre was created over a millennium by farmers and residents. Houses and buildings rise sharply from the sea, as do intricate rows of grapevines.
Our home base while visiting Cinque Terre was in La Spezia, a mid-sized town just south of Riomaggiore. It’s a convenient and more affordable spot to stay when visiting the area, and has easy access to the train line that runs between the villages. It’s also a great base for a day trip to Pisa (just a 1-hour train ride) or even Florence (a little over 2 hours on the train). Each town has its unique flair: Be sure to purchase a hiking and train pass to make a stop at each. We recommend grabbing an espresso in Monterosso, sharing a pizza in Vernazza, slurping up a basil-olive oil gelato in Corniglia, digging into stuffed mussels in Manarola, and topping it all off with a glass of red in Riomaggiore. (Don’t worry, the steep, sometimes treacherous, hiking will burn it all off!)
Enjoy our photos and videos showcasing one of the world’s most charming corners.
Enjoyed your photos and videos of the Cinque Terre, one of my favorite places in Italy. I agree with your assessment of La Spezia as an alternative city for lodging. La Spezia is a wonderful town with lots of character without the crowds of the Cinque Terre. It also has a wonderful evening passeggiata.
Additionally, I’d like to make just a few comments on your Cinque Terre blog article. First, I was disappointed with the obscenity used in the video describing the beauty of Vernazza. There are plenty of other less offensive words to describe its marvelous qualities. A blog such as yours should be a bit more professional.
While most people reading your blog won’t know the difference, there were a few possible errors in the tags for your photos.
I’m fairly certain your two photos labeled as “Vernazza: The stunning harbor and vista in the town center” and “Vernazza: The terraces in Cinque Terre are supported by over 7000 KM of dry stone walls” are actually shots of Manarola. And the photo “Manarola from the hiking trail: Primary industries here are fishing and winemaking” is actually Corniglia.
Looking forward to reading more about your amazing travels. Buon viaggio!
Thanks for your comment and thanks for reading! You are absolutely right about our mislabeled photos, and they’ve been fixed. Thanks for pointing that out.
Bellissima! Wonderful story with beautiful pictures of an amazing place!
Thanks for reading! An amazing place indeed!