A Window to Italia: Cinque Terre
Sunset over Manarola
This week, I stepped into a postcard. The perfectly crystal-clear, teal waters off of Cinque Terre and the picturesque villages nestled into the Cliffside kept me captivated. The sunsets from my Manarola hotel room, the staggeringly green hills of grapevines and olive groves, and the jagged rocks jutting out of the Ligurian Sea gave me reason to completely relax and truly enjoy all of the nature around me. If you’ve never had a desire to visit Cinque Terre, I urge you to change your mind.
The five seaside villages connected by footpaths and a train are quaint yet vibrant. The pastel-colored houses are still inhabited by locals, despite the number of tourists milling about the narrow, steep alleys that weave their way through the buildings until they bring you out onto an unexpected hilltop that has the most breathtaking views of endless ocean.
The town of Manarola nestled into the cliffside--and me!
Though upon first glance, each maritime village seems the same, they all have a unique personality: Riomaggiore, the southernmost town) is busy with tourists, but once you round the large bend to get into town, you’ll find plenty of restaurants, as well as shops offering scuba lessons. Down the romantic, Cliffside walkway called Via dell’ Amore is Manarola, a place where sunbathers and fishermen alike spend hours at the marina. Next is Corniglia, the only town not directly on the sea, but instead perched atop a craggy cliff looking out at the green waters below—its port (once you make your way down about seven minutes worth of stairs) is the best for swimming. Vernazza caters toward visitors while maintaining a busy marina where boaters motor in and out all afternoon. And, finally, Riomaggiore is home to the area’s true beach, which stretches along its entire shoreline—but be prepared for rocks instead of sand on your walk to the water.
Seafood is spotlighted on every menu in every town, with the freshest options going the quickest. And for non-fish-eaters, pesto sauce and gnocchi are local specialties.
So, yes, Cinque Terre is everything you’ve heard people say it is: beautiful, romantic, and charming. And with its perfect balance of sport (hiking and swimming), relaxation (beach), and iconic scenery, there are few places in Italy—or the rest of the world for that matter—quite like it.
Ciao!
Tags: A Window to Italia, beaches, beaches in Italy, ciao italy, Cinque Terre, Corniglia, Italian Beaches, italy and travel, italy florence, italy travel, italy travel deals, italy travel guide, italy traveling, ligurian sea, Manarola, Monterosso, Riomaggiore, rome travel, tours italy, travel for italy, travel in italy, travel italy, travel to italy, Vernazzo