Cinque Terre is considered to be one of the most desirable destinations on the Italian Peninsula among backpackers and travellers. The seaside town of La Spezia is the perfect starting point for visiting the five fishing villages. Due to its location on the Ligurian Sea coast, it's highly recommended to visit the villages by train, as the connections from the train station in La Spezia are excellent. Over 100 km of hiking trails, stunning views over cliffs and canyons offer opportunities for photos at every turn. Since 1997, UNESCO has included Cinque Terre on the World Heritage List, and today it's a part of the national park of the same name.
Whenever you choose to visit, you'll encounter thousands of visitors because of the destination's popularity. I recommend visiting in spring or autumn, when the temperatures are not as high.
I started exploring the fishing villages in the northernmost village, Monterosso al Mare, which has around 2,000 residents and is known for having the longest sandy beach on the Cinque Terre coast. A highlight of the village is the Giant Statue, a large figure carved in stone on the Fegina Beach. Here, you'll find lots of cafés, restaurants, hotels, and shops selling local products.
What to see in Monterosso? On the hill of San Cristoforo, there is a Capuchin monastery, alongside a church dedicated to Saint Francis. You should also visit the Church of San Giovanni Battista with its Baroque main altar, dating back to the 13th century. On Thursdays, there's a market on the streets of Monterosso, where they sell local produce. In May, they have a lemon festival, where you can enjoy lemon jam and lemon cake.
The village of Vernazza is considered one of the most beautiful in Cinque Terre. I walked to Vernazza along the hiking trail from Monterosso. After more than two hours of walking up and down, I was rewarded with stunning views of the Ligurian Sea and the coast. Here, you can take a walk through the maze of narrow streets, taste seafood specialities, and toast with a glass of local wine.
What to see in Vernazza? The Church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia, which overlooks the marina near the main square in Vernazza. The Doria Castle is also worth a visit. It symbolizes the village's economic importance in the past. From the Doria Tower, one of the town's landmarks, you can enjoy a stunning 360-degree view of all of Vernazza.
Manarola is a colourful village, with each house painted a different colour. Climb the steps to the vineyards, and you'll be rewarded with a lovely view of the village and the many vineyards surrounding Manarola. From Manarola to the next village, Riomaggiore, the most famous hiking trail is the Via dell’Amore, the Path of Love. During my visit, the path was unfortunately closed due to several landslides, so I went to the next village by car.
Corniglia is the only one of the five villages not on the coast, so you'll need to climb some stairs. The locals mainly work in white wine production and tourism. I found the lowest number of tourists here, from all the villages I visited. If you want peace, relaxation, and to enjoy local specialities with views of the cliffs, Corniglia is the place for you.
I ended my two-day visit to Cinque Terre in the small village of Riomaggiore. For me, Riomaggiore is the most charming village of the Cinque Terre National Park. At the top of the hill in the village, you'll find the remains of the Turcotti Castle and the Nostra Signora di Montenero shrine. The village has many local restaurants, cafés, and shops. Over the years, Riomaggiore has preserved its medieval architecture with tower houses. This is why, from all places, it left the most wonderful impression on me.
Copyright (©) 2010 - 2025 Youth Hostel | Our Privacy Policy | Cookies | | RPC
