Cinque Terre Italy

Cinque Terre is located in the Liguria region of Northern Italy on the Mediterranean coastline in between Portofino and La Spezia.

Cinque Terre is actually a national park. The Italian name is Parco Cinque Terre.

The 5 towns are one of the most beautiful places in the world. Parco Cinque Terre has been designated as a Unesco World Heritage site. Local living has not been affected by tourism due to heavy building restrictions, preservationists, and the natural landscape itself makes for difficult development.

We suggest if you are traveling to Cinque Terre that you pack light. If you are bringing multiple bags, try leaving some in a train station locker. The Cinque Terre is very hilly and the hills are steep. There are also LOTS of stairs, everywhere. It is VERY likely whereever you are staying will NOT have an elevator. 1 rolling bag or backpack is great! Even though most towns have a shuttle service to take tourists up and down the mountain, to walk it, is an experience.

Monterosso Al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are the names of the five little villages built into the rocks between the beach and the hills that make up the beautiful Cinque Terre.

Along the rocky coastline of northern Italy with terraced hills and vineyards sloping steeply down to the sea, you can enjoy hiking, swimming, drinking red and white wine, eating delicious food and watching the blazing Mediterranean sunsets away from the busy tourist spots. The area is surrounded with terraced olive groves and vineyards, orchards and chestnut woods.

Each village has its own character and charm. The villages are only a few minutes apart by train. Walking can take hours (except for Riomaggiore - Manarola on the Villa Del Amore). Cars are very scarce in the Cinque Terre, as the villages are not easily accessible by road.