Colorful houses on top of cliffs, a landscape that could not be any more idyllic – that’s how we know the five villages in Cinque Terre at the Italian Riviera. Our travel guide and Italy-connoisseur Rossella will tell you how to get there and what to do.
The Perfect Start In Cinque Terre
Starting in La Spezia, a ferry will take you to any desired village in Cinque Terre, at the gulf of poets, the “golfo dei poeti”. The harbor town La Spezia is located right at the center of the deep bay and therefore is the junction of the means of transport. Other than a shopping mile, La Spezia has many great restaurants to offer. “Bolle in Pentola” is especially recommendable. The local Italian cuisine ranges from a variety of starters and delicious regional fish dishes.
Colorful Riomaggiore & The Most Beautiful Beach Of Cinque Terre
Due to La Spezia’s location, from there the Cinque Terre are best reached by train. Riomaggiore is the first village stop of the train. After a five- to ten-minute walk you will find yourself right in the heart of this tiny charming place. At the main street, you can stroll around in the little alleys, stop by at the cute restaurants, souvenir shops, ice cream parlors and cafés. To get a stunning view, you should walk to the coast. You won’t regret it – it’s the place where will be able to overlook the entire bay with the colorful houses. This beautiful scenery melts together village and coast.
Monterosso al Mare is the best place to visit for a day at the beach. This village is known for its one kilometer long sandy beach – which is actually pretty unusual for Cinque Terre, since there are mostly pebble beaches.
CARMITIPP: The beaches of Monterosso al Mare are especially crowded at peak season. Therefore, being early is recommended.
The Pure Charm Of Cinque Terre
Just like the other villages of Cinque Terre, Vernezza also has its very own charm. When walking through the narrow alleys to get to the little harbor, you will walk across a piazza with many cute restaurants. The trattoria “Da Piva” offers you live music as wells as traditional dishes such as risotto with seafood. It’s the perfect place to end your day in a nice Italian way.
So even though the five islands of Cinque Terre are very close to each other and are seen as a unity, every single village has its own facet. Those magical villages are definitely worth the travel!
Text & Photos by Rossella
