Blogs from Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy, Europe

Advertisement

Europe » Italy » Liguria » Cinque Terre » Manarola September 18th 2023

After an appx 2 hour train ride from Florence, we arrive in Cinque Terre (pronounced Chink weh Tay reh). The name refers to 5 Villages that hug the rugged coast line as part of the Italian Riviera. Up until about 1990, the area was a relatively obscure tourist destination with a few visitors mainly from France, Germany and other European countries. When Rick Steves, the American travel writer, discovered it, the area became the 4th most popular travel destinations in Italy, behind Rome, Florence and Venice. In the early days prior to the “tourism takeover”, the main attraction in Cinque Terre was the Via Delle Amore, or ”walk of love”. The trail connected two of the villages, Manarola and Riomaggiore and when opened, it dramatically improved relationships between these once isolated communities. Young people, who rarely ... read more
RiomaggioreHarbour
On the boat tour
Manarola

Europe » Italy » Liguria » Cinque Terre » Monterosso al Mare July 24th 2023

A day at the Cinque Terre started early with the 8am train from Montecatini Terme to Monterosso al Mare (the most northerly of the 5 towns) which is a 2 1/2 hour train ride. The Cinque Terre is a rugged coastline on the Italian Riviera composed of five beautiful hillside villages. We started looking around Monterosso al Mare, which is the largest of the five towns and has the only sandy beach in the area. Is a lovely town made up of a newer area and the old town and is relative flat. After a short explore of this village we then hoping a regional train to Vernazza. Vernazza is a tradition fishing village with colourful houses surrounding the small harbour where small fishing boats are anchored. This is a very picturesque village but loads of ... read more
DSC_0265
DSC_0238
DSC_0242

Europe » Italy » Liguria » Cinque Terre September 8th 2021

Le premier but de notre voyage !!!! Les 5 Terres... Ce ne fut pas facile d'y trouver un camping... Depuis la maison déjà on nous disait que "tout complet"... On a donc risqué le paquet et on y est tout de même arrivés... Nous avions finalement trouvé une réservation pour 4 nuits... Arrivés sur place, réception fermée.. JJ se propose d'aller se balader dans le camping et me revient disant que ce n'est pas terrible... On risque le tout pour le tout et on continue notre route allant même jusqu'à un camping qu'on nous disait complet. Au téléphone le patron me dit qu'il a de la place pour une nuit et demain on espérera que quelqu'un décide de partir... En attendant nous y passons un première nuit... Nous y sommes aujourd'hui pour la 4ème nuit... Petit ... read more
...
nous commencerons par prendre le train pour notre visite du premier jour...
train Disney !

Europe » Italy » Liguria » Cinque Terre » Monterosso al Mare September 22nd 2019

I left Milan with all the excitement of going to Cinque Terre. I was here several years ago, and I have wanted to come back for so long. A little history... The Cinque Terre (meaning five lands) is a coastal area within Liguria, in the northwest of Italy. It is comprised of five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Access to Cinque Terre by car is limited. A road to Vernazza is very narrow and ends 1 kilometer (0.62 mi) before the town. Alternatively, you can drive to Bonassola, park your vehicle there, and take the local train two stops to Monterosso in the Cinque Terre. Trains run from La ... read more
0922-IMG_1946
0922-IMG_1948
0922-IMG_1963

Europe » Italy » Liguria » Cinque Terre June 13th 2019

A three hour drive to the hills just inland from the five coastal towns that make up Cinque Terre. We drove for 15 minutes to Telegrafo where we started a walk down to Riomaggiore, a beautiful scenic walk down to the sea dropping over 500 metres through rocky paths and steps through vineyards and churchyards and eventually making it to the end (well apart from the hike back uphill before dark at 9pm) A beautiful town stretching up the hillsides in the bay with multi coloured housing. Next day we drove to La Spezia to catch the train which went to all of the Cinque Terre towns. We went to Monterosso del Mare and after a wander round, hiked from there to the next town of Vernazza where we met Steve and Julie, old friends from ... read more
View towards Riamaggiore
beach at Monterosso al Mare
Vernazza near the end of our walk

Europe » Italy » Liguria » Cinque Terre October 10th 2018

Day 4 - La Spezia is a huge port town with cruise ships coming in and out every day, and it also is a base for the Italian navy. Needless to say, there are no shortage of boats around here (hehehe). While you won't find as much art and history as say a Rome or Florence, there are still a surprising number of museums to check out. All in all, La Spezia is a nice little town. Cinque Terre - to describe as an area of land, not one place. The Cinque Terre is actually a national park, a protected waterway and a UNESCO World Heritage site. No vehicle traffic is allowed inside the villages. This explains why the area is well preserved, it has a way of transporting you to a simpler time… a time ... read more
3
4
5

Europe » Italy » Liguria » Cinque Terre September 4th 2018

Weather in Italy--Mamma Mia! Today's forecast for the Cinque Terre area in Liguria was rain and more rain. So we dejectedly packed rain jackets and umbrellas since we got soaked yesterday (sunny forecast). By the time we got off the train in Monterosso al Mare we were shedding jackets. Never did need the umbrella! What a gorgeous day! The expression in Today's title is what Igor says about someone who's done something good. So mine is for the weatherman who never gets it right. After a look around Monterosso, the first town of the five, we boarded a boat for Vernazza, one of the most beautiful. From the sea, the towns are most charming. The sea color is a deep almost cobalt blue, and the brightly colored houses of the towns cluster what almost seems to ... read more
focaccia lunch in Vernazza
From the Ferry -Cinque Terre
Portovenere harbor

Europe » Italy » Liguria » Cinque Terre » Monterosso al Mare May 31st 2018

Sometimes it's hard to decide where to go for a long weekend in Europe, this time we decided to visit Cinque Terre in Italy after a recommendation from a friend. Flying in to Genoa, we immediately headed to the train station for a 1.5hr, slow train, ride along the North West Coast of Italy to the first Terre, Monterosso Al Mare where we were staying. Cinque terre comprises of five small and different towns along a small section of the coast. The five towns are Monterosso Al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. All can be accessed by train but to go just one train stop will cost 4 euros. You can get a pass but we were quite sneaky and didn't pay for any tickets. As it was a sunny day on a Sunday, lots ... read more
Cinque Terre Coast
Cinque Terre Coast
Riomaggiore

Europe » Italy » Liguria » Cinque Terre » Corniglia May 2nd 2018

An American breakfast was desired...and great. Mike was dying for some buttered toast ...so pane con burro e marmallato was on order. All delicioso. On to a poncho covered day in Riomaggiore and Manarola...some brief respites from rainy drizzle...and hot water. Our Villa water heater went kaput ( or however you say that in Italian). It's back but I still haven't showered. We learned to be local on the trains... No one pays. Gelato, a cone of fried baccala (cod), shrimp, crab, calamari, and veggies as snacks. Mike tried his first Italian hot dog for lunch and loved it - quite a bit different than the American kind. Because of the bad weather the boats were pulled out of the sea in both towns that we visited. It's such an effort that the entire townspeople - ... read more
IMG_20180502_112815507
IMG_20180502_113038235
IMG_20180502_142136104

Europe » Italy » Liguria » Cinque Terre » Vernazza May 1st 2018

Hike from Corniglia to Vernazza this morning. Started out sunny ended with cold constant drizzle unfortunately. First rain we've had...but more to come sadly. Won't keep us indoor tho. Simple 1 hour hike took 2. Stopped Alot for photos and a granita limone. Pics are first overlooking the town we are in, Corniglia, from on the early part of hike. Latter pix are of Vernazza...at sea level where Corniglia is not. The Rocky mishappen steps, some 6 inches high, others over a foot high, and uneven way really took a toll on my knee and hip. Nursing it now with naproxen, tiger balm, and may need some TENS stimulation. But the hike was SO WORTH THE EFFORT and pain. One town in a day is enough for me. Tomorrow we tryto get from riomaggiore to Manarola. ... read more
IMG_20180501_112232477
IMG_20180430_140755867
IMG_20180501_112350498




Tot: 0.184s; Tpl: 0.007s; cc: 9; qc: 99; dbt: 0.1082s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.3mb