Cinque Terre, Italy – the Five Towns

Tourist Tips for the Italian Gem, the Cinque Terre National Park

Mar 31, 2009 James Parsons

Any tour of Italy should include the five towns of the Cinque Terre - Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso clinging to the steep rockface.

The Cinque Terre region of Northern Italy (sometimes mis-spelled Cinque Terra) is such a unique natural and built environment that it was proclaimed a world heritage national park and the surrounding waters a protected marine park. Tourists should try to include the Cinque Terre in their Italian itinerary.

Where is the Cinque Terre?

The region is hard to identify on the average map of Italy. Look for the curve between Pisa and Genoa, heading or France. More specifically, the Cinque Terre is strung between the centres of La Specia in the south and Levanto in the north. From La Specia, the five towns are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare.

The Character of the Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre (Five Regions) encompasses five villages laid out on steep, inhospitable cliff faces and their surrounding vineyards which scale the steep mountainsides in hard-won terraces. The arduous work of building dry-stone retaining walls to create terraces took place centuries ago; the present day labour of tending the vines and lemon trees on slopes that tower above the towns is grueling, nonetheless. Viticulture, small scale fishing and, of course, tourism are the chief sources of income.

Many residents supplement their incomes by renting rooms to the hordes of tourists. It is a treat to actually stay in one of the towns where the pastel cream or pink buildings seem to be piled one on the other like Lego blocks cascading down the hillsides.

Visiting the Cinque Terre

There is Bed and Breakfast accommodation in most of the towns. Best bets are Manarola and Monterosso. Visitors need to be certain of the position of their chosen accommodation. In Manarola, for example, there is no transport and the hike from the railway station, towing luggage, to many of the available rooms requires fitness. It is not for anyone with mobility problems (or vertigo). The views back down over the town and out to sea are well worth the effort (see photos below).

Visitors who don’t especially want to stay within the Cinque Terre can readily find a hotel in the major seaside town of La Specia. This excellent base for exploring the five towns is only a 9 minute train ride from the first village, Riomaggiore.

Train links between the Five Towns

A train line burrowing through the mountain connects the villages like an underground rail system. Trains are usually ½ hourly, but some services skip certain towns, so it pays to check the timetable. For little over 4 Euros, it is possible to spend 12 hours hopping between the towns, which are only 3 – 4 minutes apart. It is possible to see all the towns in one day – briefly. In truth, each town deserves a day to itself.

Character of the Villages

While the five towns or villages have a lot in common, they each have a distinct style. Manarola, for example, seems quiet. The views from the heights are extraordinary. Small fishing boats are hoisted by winch up the rock face to be parked like cars outside the shops near the harbor.

Vernazza has a main street that runs down from the railway station with plenty of eateries and local products or sale. The little harbor is pretty and set off by the blocky stone church on the waterfront. Cats stroll over colourful beached boats.

Monterossa has the railway station with the best view in the world. The traveler steps from the train directly in front of an attractive café right on the station with bright umbrellas and the sparkling blue Mediterranean as a backdrop. Monterosso is the only Cinque Terre town with a beach. It’s a typical European pebble beach, but long and pretty. The town has more of a lively resort air.

Walking the Cinque Terre

Many tourists come specifically to walk the trail between the five villages. Some people do segments; others complete the full 9 km from Riomaggiore to Monterossa in an average time of 5 hours. A popular segment around the cliff face is the 20 minute section between Riomaggiore and Manarola, known locally as the Via Dell Amore (the Path of Love). There are also tougher hiking trails that ascend the slopes to villages in the interior.

Even a day trip to Cinque Terre from Pisa or, (with a very early start) from Florence is worthwhile. Better still, incorporate the Cinque Terre in an Italian itinerary: perhaps Rome, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Genoa, Milan, Venice.

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