Cinque Terre coastal villages in Liguria region of Italy travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

The Cinque Terre are five coastal villages in the province of La Spezia in the Liguria region of Italy. They have been discovered by foreigners in the late 20th century and now they are among the most touristed areas of Italy. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all encapsulated in a national park of the same name.

The five villages are, from west to east Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

Monterosso al Mare is one of the five villages in Cinque Terre. The town is divided into two distinct parts: the old town and the new town. The two areas are divided by a single tunnel that caters to pedestrians and the very few cars in the town. The beach at Monterosso runs along most of the coast line and is well used by tourists and locals. The beach is the only extensive sand beach in the Cinque Terre.

Monterosso al Mare Main sights are The Castle, partially ruined, built by the Genoese and The Parish church of St. John the Baptist (1282-1307). On the facade, the main portal is surmounted by a fresco portraying the Baptismof Christ, and has four small marble columns. The church is on the basilica plan, with a nave and two aisles. The square-planned, medieval bell tower is crowned by merlons.

Historically, many of the villages on the Mediterranean were walled to protect against attacks from the sea. This area of the coast was often attacked by Muslim pirates and Vikings. Viking influence can still be seen in the occasional fair-skinned, red-headed children of the native villagers in the region.

Originally, the village was only accessible by sea or by mule paths that connected the villages of the Cinque Terre as well as to Via Roma, the main road that connected all of Italy to Rome. These mule paths have been maintained and used over the centuries and now provide hikers with a more intimate view of the sea-swept Cinque Terre. The area was recently designated as part of the national park system and is considered a protected area, to the effect of limited development and resource usage. The Cinque Terre hiking trails have been taken over by the national park system and there is now a fee to hike on all portions of the trail.

Vernazza is the fourth town heading north into the Cinque Terre. It has no car traffic and remains one of the truest “fishing villages” on the Italian Riviera. It has Colorful, antique homes cling to impossible cliffs. A lovely small harbor is nestled under the shadows of an ancient castle and a dramatic seaside church.

Vernazza has the only the proper harbor in the Cinque Terre and is a charming, small fishing village. Vernazza was founded about 1000 A.D. and was ruled by the Republic of Genoa starting in 1276. Vernazza’s medieval castle, Belforte, was built in the mid-1500′s, primarily to protect the village from Pirates.

Vernazza’s historic wealth is evidenced by the elegant style of its houses and streets, which are decorated with tower forms, open galleries, refined arcades and elaborate doorways. The Village is surrounded by very steeply-terraced Olive groves which are said to produce among the finest Olive oil in the country.

Corniglia is different from the other localities of the Cinque Terre, it does not directly look upon the sea but raises on the top of a promontory about 100 meters high, surrounded on three sides by vineyards and terraces and the fourth side descends steeply on the sea. To reach Corniglia, it is necessary to climb the Lardarina, a long brick flight of steps composed of 33 flights with 377 steps or, otherwise follow a vehicular road that, from the station, leads to the village.

The village stretches along the main road, Fieschi Road, and the houses have one side facing this road and the other facing the sea. Corniglia is characterized by narrow roads and a terrace obtained in the rock from which all other four Cinque Terre’s villages, two on one side and two on the other, can be seen. The town planning structure presents also original characteristics compared to those of the other villages: the houses are lower set, and only more recently higher, similar to those of the villages of the hinterland.

A few documents from 1276-77, mention the existence of a castle of which no remain has been found up to today so that not even the location of the castle has been possible. The only ruin left, belonging to the Genoese fortifications, is a stronghold on a cliff plunging into the sea which dates back to approximately 1556.

Manarola may be the oldest of the cities in the Cinque Terre, with the cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dating from 1160. The local dialect is Manarolese, which is marginally different from the dialects in the nearby area.

Manarola’s primary industries have traditionally been fishing and wine-making. The local wine, called Sciacchetra, is especially renowned; references from Roman writings mention the high quality of the wine produced in the region. In recent years, Manarola and its neighboring towns have become popular tourist destinations, particularly in the summer months. Tourist attractions in the region include a famous walking trail between Manarola and Riomaggiore (called Via dell’Amore, “Love’s Trail”) and hiking trails in the hills and vineyards above the town.

Riomaggiore is known for its historic character and its wine, produced by the town’s vineyards. Riomaggiore is in the Riviera di Levante region and has shoreline on the Mediterranean’s Gulf of Genoa, with a small beach and a wharf framed by tower houses. Riomaggiore has one or two roads where people go and hang out, but most of the life at night can be found at the Bar Centrale.

Google Earth Placemark – Cinque Terre coastal villages in Liguria region of Italy.