The beautiful region in northwest Italy is referred to as the Italian Riviera. Nestled along the coast is an area known as Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre consists of five villages, which is the translated name, embedded in a picturesque, coastal landscape beside the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the villages are on the water, but the beaches are rocky similar to the ones in the French Riviera.
Terraced vineyards and olive groves scatter the hills adjacent to these quiet villages. There are no magnificent museums or famous tourist spots here, other than the magnificent landscape that exists in the region. Hiking though the towns offers beautiful seaside views. All of the towns are nearly traffic-free and best explored on foot. To cover the most ground while still catching glimpses of the sea, walking the trail that connects all five villages is the best option.
The Trail is Part of a National Park
The Cinque Terre is a national park and to maintain the unspoiled land, there is a nominal fee to walk on the trail. Making this coastal trek is a terrific way to see the views of the sea and the vineyard covered cliffs. Depending on the pace, it takes about 5 hours and parts of the trek can be quite arduous. Many visitors hike all five villages and take the train back to their destination.
Characteristics of the Hiking Trail
Starting from the south and heading north, the path from Riomaggiore to Manorola is called Via Dell Amore or “Lover’s Walk” and is the easiest and usually the most crowded. The next stretch begins in Manorola and travels up to the village of Corniglia. Corniglia is the only village of the five that is not situated directly on the water, but up on a hill. This segment remains fairly easy, with beautiful Mediterranean views and ends with a steep climb of over 350 stairs.
After leaving Corniglia, hikers will come to Vernazza. This portion has difficult sections and includes winding paths with breathtaking views. Parts of the trail consist of an extremely narrow strip of dirt along a steep cliff. On the last stretch from Vernazza to Monterosso, there are steep stone paths that meander through more vineyards. On many spots along the trail, the villages can be seen in the distance with their pastel colored homes poking out from the land, jutting out towards the sea.
Other Local Hikes
Visitors also have the option of hiking up the surrounding hills where more small villages exist. These hikes are more strenuous and less crowded, but worth the adventure to see less touristy parts of the region. These inland villages include Groppo, where there is a small Cantina Sociale Wine Cooperative, and Volastra, a quiet village set high into the hills, with sweeping views.
Alternatives to Hiking
This region is known for its beauty and each town offers its own unique flavor and character. For those who do not find hiking appealing, the trek should not prevent those travelers from visiting. If the entire trek is not a viable option, a train makes stops in all five villages.
Visitors can also walk only portions of the trail and utilize the train to explore all of the other villages. In addition to the train, visitors can view the region from the water on small passenger ferries that stop in all of the villages except Corniglia, since it does not have direct water access.
Besides hiking, there are many methods of travel to see Cinque Terre, depending on fitness level, interest, and time.
Julie McElroy - Freelance travel writer with published articles about places all over the world, including Italy, Colorado, Japan, Germany, and Spain.
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