Beautiful string of five old colorful fishing
villages on steep terraces of rugged Italian Riviera were only accessible by mule tracks
and boats, until recently. And as a tour guide, I can't wait to show you the best things to do
in Cinque Terre, Italy. Now there are three ways to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
First is to hike the trails, second option is to use a ferry boat available every spring and
summer and the third option is to take a train. Starting from La Spezia the first village
is Riomaggiore. Its main street is a covered canal under which runs a creek, which gave the
village its name. Street runs down to the sea, where a small harbor is framed by lovely
pastel painted houses and filled with brightly colored fishing boats. Colorful tower houses
are linked to each other and rise on three or four floors. All of them have a front and
a back entrance at the upper floors to allow residents to escape in the event of an attack
from the sea. Side streets are made of stairs and stairways connecting vertical landscape
with surrounding wine terraces. In the upper part of the village is a gothic church from the
1300s, although today's appearance is from the late 1800s. Three nave interior is dominated
by the alternating black and white colors, typical for the area. Church is decorated
with various art pieces, including ancient carved panels and marble pulpit dating to the
1600s. Above the village rises a small castle from the 1200s built for defensive purposes by the
Republic of Genoa, who dominated the area for 700 years. During the French domination of Napoleon
Bonaparte, the fortress was filled with earth and destined to be a cemetery. Today it is used as
a cultural center and offers a magnificent view. The only beach of Riomaggiore is a rocky
pebble beach. It can be reached by the narrow concrete path between the rocks
from the marina. People also use the rocks of the small port to jump into the water
from and a place to relax and sunbathe. Hiking trail that connects Riomaggiore
to neighboring Manarola village is known as Via dell'Amore. Start of the trail
is at the Riomaggiore train station, but unfortunately it is closed due to a landslide
and reopening is scheduled for July 2024. Next village is Manarola, built on a dark
rock 70 metres above the sea. It has a tiny scenic harbor enclosed between two rocky
spurs. Here is a tiny square lined with picturesque multi coloured houses rising above
the sea. Uphill from the harbor runs the main street made by covering the stream. From the
main street a series of narrow stone-paved alleys rise uphill to the vertical landscape
with houses and panoramic views. With little space inside the old village there is a
pedestrian tunnel that leads to a nearby train station. On the top of the village is a
Gothic style church from the 1300s. Its local sandstone facade bears a Gothic arch portal and
a marble rose window. The interior is covered in Baroque style and near the baptismal font
there is an ancient marble measure to check the quantity of grains with a coat of arms of
the Republic of Genoa. Opposite to the church stands a self-standing bell tower from
where you can admire a great panorama. With little space available, Manarola waterfront
is also too small for a real beach. Instead the rocky area around the harbor is used as the main
sunbathing and swimming spot of the village. But there are some spectacular view points like the
area above the harbor with a lovely park and a line of bars offering the best panoramic view
of the village. Here is also a starting point of a hiking trail to the neighboring village of
Corniglia which takes about two and a half hours. The village of Corniglia is different as it is
elevated 100 meters or 330 feet above the sea. As it is the only seaside village without
direct access to the sea it's also the least visited of the five. On three sides it's
surrounded by terraces planted with wines. The smallest of the five villages has a long and
rich agricultural tradition, yet it appears to be more refined than other villages with
more architectural details. The reason comes from the late middle ages when the village was
the residence of a noble Genovese family. The most comfortable way to get to Corniglia is
by train. From the train station you have to go up the Lardarina, a long brick staircase
with 33 ramps and 382 steps. Alternatively, there is a road with a shuttle bus. In the upper
part of the village is a Gothic style church from the 1300s. The facade is built with local
grey stone and decorated with a Carrara marble rose window. The interior with three naves is
decorated in a Baroque style. There is also a beautiful altarpiece made of eighteen panels
depicting the Mysteries of Faith. Hiking trail to the neighboring Vernazza village is one of
the most popular ones and includes a hiking fee covered by the Cinque Terre Card. It takes about
an hour and a half and offers spectacular views. Vernazza is one of the most popular places
of Cinque Terre, as it is also considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in
Italy. Above the harbor rises a rocky ridge with a 15th century castle and a tower. The
origin of the village is ancient as it has the only natural port of Cinque Terre. The village
developed along a now covered stream transformed into the main street. Steep and narrow paths
lead down to the main road that ends with a small square located in front of the marina full
of small fishermen's boats. The centerpiece of the village is the beautiful waterfront church
dating back to the 12th century. Legend has it that in ancient times a small wooden box was found
on the beach containing the bones of a finger of Santa Margherita's hand. A decision was made to
build a church dedicated to the saint in another place in the area. But the relic disappeared
and reappeared sometime later on the same beach as the first time. People finally understood the
message and built the church on the spot. One of the landmarks of Vernazza is its castle tower that
can be visited. The tower stands in the middle of the castle terrace and is the oldest part of
the fortification. It was used as a lookout fortress to protect the village from pirates.
To reach the tower you must climb steep stairs, but you will be rewarded with great 360 views.
The castle was built by the Republic of Genoa, who controlled Cinque Terre for about 700 years.
The castle is now used as a cultural center. There are also two small beaches. First one can be
found in the harbor next to the church. There you can take a swim and use nearby flat rocks
for sunbathing. The harbor surrounding the small dark sandy beach allows the water to remain calm.
There is also a slightly larger stone and pebble beach on the east side of the village, but it is
accessible through a small cave that was closed at the time of my visit. As the village is in
the heart of Cinque Terre it's also the perfect starting point for hikes with beautiful views.
The hike between Vernazza and Monterosso will take about an hour and half and includes a hiking
fee, so you should buy the Cinque Terre Card. Monterosso is the last and the largest of the
five villages. It's also easily accessible by car. This is the only flat village great for those
who don't want to climb a lot of stairs. In the middle of the village is a hill with a convent
and a church, that divides the old and the new part of Monterosso. Old part of the village was
built along the banks of now covered stream and remained virtually intact with typical narrow
medieval streets and multi-coloured houses. There you'll find the main square and a Gothic
style church from the 1200s with a beautiful rose marble window. The interior holds a
painting of the Madonna del Rosario and a fresco depicting the baptism of Christ. The
bell tower was originally a medieval watchtower, part of the fortifications built by the
Republic of Genoa. Right next to the church is an interesting oratory, a small chapel
built in a similar style and intended for private worship. On the hill separating the two parts
of the village is the convent of the Capuchin Friars. Beautiful panoramic paths climb the
hill meeting at a statue of Saint Francis, one of the most photographed landmarks of
the Cinque Terre. You should take a quick look inside a small church of Saint Francis,
decorated with beautiful works of art. Also, don't miss the walk around the cemetery located in
the old castle on the very top of the hill, as it offers spectacular views. The second part of the
village, known as Fegina is a modern residential neighborhood along the sea promenade with sandy
beaches. There you'll find plenty of restaurants, pubs, ice cream shops and a wide range of
hotels. Right in front of the train station is a traditional sandy beach, the largest beach of the
Cinque Terre. You can either choose to pay for an umbrella and a chair or settle with your own
towel in a free area at the end of the beach, under the statue of the Giant. The sculpture in
reinforced concrete and iron from 1910 represents a Neptune. It was made to adorn a large terrace of
a villa built by two villagers who returned from Argentina after making a fortune. Monterosso has
a long tradition of the cultivation of lemons, and every May the village hosts a famous lemon
festival. Lemons are a key ingredient in many local specialties, like anchovies marinated in
lemon juice, a lemon liqueur, lemon marmalade, lemon ice cream, and cakes. Hiking trail to
Vernazza starts from the eastern part of the old town near hotel Porto Roca and offers wonderful
views. The trail takes about one and a half hours and includes a hiking fee covered by the Cinque
Terre Card. There is much more to experience in Cinque Terre so be sure to check the description
below where you can find my favorite tours and experiences. My name is Rok, thanks for the
thumbs up and for watching, and see you next time!
