On the rough parts of Italian Rivera, Cinque Terre can be found. One of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s basically a number of villages that were built on rugged cliffs. Cinque Terre mean “Five Lands,” composed of five villages built closely together making it seem as though it’s just a huge town. The five villages are Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Monterosso al Mare, Vernaza, and Manarola.
credit: www.backroads.com
Cinque Terre mostly relies on tourism, but they do grow some wine grapes on the slopes. These little houses are popular among many tourists, so popular that they have become more and more crowded over the years. It’s kind of hard to move and enjoy stuff when there are swarms of people blocking your way and your view. You can go in the middle of winter, but with the low temperatures you might end up indoors.
Riomaggiore is not only an impressive villages, but a colorful one at that, every corner makes for a perfect shot. Here, you can also find the famous “walkway of love,” that end with Manarola. The whole way design with graffiti from past couples who have also experienced the beauty of the village. While Manarola also hosts its own colorful buildings, chow down on some of their best seafood and wine, you can even go sunbathing on some remote rocks along their shore.
Corniglia is situated on the hilltop so it won’t be accessible via ferry, you need to climb the 380 steps. It’s also surrounded by vineyards and terraces. Monterosso al Mare, has the most beaches and is always jam-packed during the summer. Don’t leave without tasting their wine and grapes. Lastly, Vernazza requires a 90 minute hike from Corniglia. But once you get there, you’ll meet with a beautiful castle ruin, fishing spots and refreshing waterfalls.
