Tucked away in the Levanta Region on a slice of rugged north west Italian coast is Cinque Terre, translating as ‘The Five Lands’. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to five carefully perched hilltop and cliffside fishing villages linked by precarious mountainside paths and railway system- cars have long been banned from the area.
Cinque Terre comprises of Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Manarola, Vernazza and Montersosso al Mare, with the latter being the oldest of the Medieval hamlets, dating back to AD 643 and most of what remains dates back to the 12th century. Set amid some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on the planet, it is no surprise that this continues to be a popular tourist destination.
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The villages are still in a state of recovery after being pounded by flash floods in 2011, mud buried historic features and items. Most businesses have re opened but certain paths and trails remain closed so make sure to double check if you are planning on hiking.
Personally, the Amalfi Coast (see archives under ‘Positano’) was more impressive due to the scale of construction, but if you are based in Northern Italy this is worth a visit for a comparable alternative.
How we got there:
I would recommend driving the panoramic road from La Spezia to Riomaggiore (12 km). As previously mentioned cars have been banned from driving through the towns, so we drove to Riomaggiore’s multi story car park (€23.00 per day) where a shuttle service is available to the centre. It is an easy 10 minute walk if you prefer. We then purchased a rail day pass and used the train to access the other towns.
What we did:
I tried to find a tour guide to show us around but this proved almost impossible unless you were coming on a bus tour from a city, i.e. Florence. So we decided to train hop and do it ourselves, which turned out to be a much more flexible option.
Riomaggiore- Our starting point and second largest town to Monterosso, we were most excited about the Via dell’Amore (Walk of Love). Unfortunately due to the storms they are still rennovating segments of this cliff hugging pathway to the next town of Manarola. Glimpses of it can be seen by the main photo of this blog and I am sure views from the path itself are spectacular.
Manarola- This can normally be reached by the BVia dell’Amore, but unfortunately it was still closed. We took the train instead to admire the smallest of the towns. Corniglia– We disembarked the train at the quitest village of Cinque Terre. Takes a little longer to arrive up there, but you are rewarded by the colors, views, and peace that characterises it. 
If you prefer to save your energy it is worth getting the small shuttle bus just outside the station for the uphill approach into the town. There are steps carved into the cliff and you can take them coming back down to the train station to soak in the views.
Vernazza- Known as the pearl of Cinque Terre, it has quiet shady alley streets and spectacular overview of the ocean. 
Monterosso al Mare- The largest village of Cinque Terre, here admire its ancient churches and recover from all the train hopping with lunch and gelato.
Where we ate:
There are many restaurants in the main towns of Riomaggiore and Monterosso. We decided to pay the premium price and sit in one of the waterside restaurants to admire the view. I must say it was worth it for people watching and appreciating the contrast of buildings to the ocean.
If we had more time: Take the Ferry- The return to Riomaggiore can be done by ferry where you can admire the amazing view of Cinque Terre from the seaside. Unfortunately the seas were too choppy and this option was not available.
-till the next experience
YOLO Inc. 