And always have your camera on you. Aside from pesto, seafood reigns on the menus of the Cinque Terre. Anchovies have been a primary staple since Roman times and their oily saltiness perks up dishes all over the Cinque Terre today, whether marinated in lemon and olive oil or battered and fried. Thick focaccia bread, slicked in olive oil and sprinkled with salt crystals, is eaten here as a breakfast pastry, an afternoon snack or even a midnight feast.
There are dozens of trails in the Cinque Terre. Start with the sedate and very popular Blue Path sentiero azzurro , also called Trail 2, which links all five towns. Instead, get ready to explore the many small rocky coves that are only accessible via the water. Renting a boat means that you can find these much quieter spots for a private swim in the sea — you can always hire a local sailor to show you the way.
Seeing the villages from the sea, with a mountain backdrop, is a totally different experience from the opposite view from a mountain hiking trail. Hiking on the path near Manarola village, Cinque Terre. It's often named one of the best hikes in the world.
If you possibly can, walk at least one portion of the path carved in the cliffs between the villages. It's also the most crowded, so if you visit in high season and seek more solitude, walk another section.
Maps are available in park offices at train stations where you need to buy an entrance ticket to use the trails. It is also essential to stop there to check the condition of trails and to understand that any or all of them may be closed due to weather or damage. The prime experience is to hike the entire kilometer Sentiero Azzurro from Monterosso to Riomaggiore, but only for those in good condition with proper boots and no fear of heights. The trail is often very narrow and skirts the face of vertical cliffs with no barriers between hikers and the sea crashing far below.
To walk any section of the trail, you will need to buy at pass. You can buy these at the information desks at every train station in Cinque Terre, Levanto and La Spezia, or online in advance.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Cinque Terre. Monterosso al Mare. The largest of the five towns is Monterosso al Mare. It is less photogenic but the only one with a sizable beach. On a crag above the sea, the medieval Torre Aurora was built to protect the town from frequent pirate attacks. High above, on the road to Vernazza, the pilgrimage church of the Madonna di Soviore has a painted Baroque interior and spectacular views.
The sanctuary serves simple meals of local foods to pilgrims and hikers. Corniglia is the "quiet" middle village that sits atop a ft-high rocky promontory surrounded by vineyards. It is the only Cinque Terre settlement with no direct sea access, although steep steps lead down to a rocky cove.
Narrow alleys and colorfully painted four-story houses characterize the ancient core, a timeless streetscape that was namechecked in Boccaccio's Decameron. Its tranquil, tangled streets lead to a broad and breezy sea-facing terrace , the only vantage point from where you can see and photograph all five villages at once.
To reach the village proper from the railway station, you must first tackle the Lardarina, a step brick stairway, or jump on a shuttle bus. Vernazza 's small harbor — the only secure landing point on the Cinque Terre coast — guards what is perhaps the quaintest, and steepest, of the five villages. Lined with little cafes, a main cobbled street Via Roma links seaside Piazza Marconi with the train station. Side streets lead to the village's trademark Genoa-style caruggi narrow streets , where sea views pop at every turn.
The only Cinque Terre settlement to sport a proper stretch of beach, the westernmost village of Monterosso is the least quintessential of the quintet. The village, known for its lemon trees and anchovies, is delightful. Split in two, its new and old halves are linked by an underground tunnel burrowed beneath the blustery San Cristoforo promontory. The 10 best beaches in Italy. For centuries, walking trails were the only way to travel between the villages of the Cinque Terre and often provided the only link to the outside world.
Hiking here is done in the constant company of the sea, but it also offers wonderful glimpses of unique terraced farms and coastal forests. Since the floods, many of Cinque Terre's walking paths have been in a delicate state and prone to periodic or permanent closure. Always check with the Cinque Terre National Park office before you set out.
Between May and September, park guides host daily guided walks. Our comprehensive guide will tell you how to get there — and have the best possible trip. The area is home to some 4, inhabitants, but attracts 2.
The principle attraction is the beautiful but rugged landscape. While Cinque Terre is a popular day trip from Florence , the charming towns and hiking trails that unite them deserve a longer and slower visit, so we recommend staying for three nights in order to fully absorb what this territory has to offer. The busiest months are May through August.
The high season gets very crowded, so try and book a room at least three months in advance. If there are heavy rains, hiking trails may be closed for safety reasons. Expect fairs for lemons in May and anchovies mid-September , both of which take place in Monterosso al Mare. Each town celebrates a different patron saint. Local trains best serve the area, while individual car access is highly discouraged. Group travelers tend to arrive by organized bus or boat tours.
Serving 20 airlines including charter and low-cost airlines, most flights in to Pisa arrive from other European destinations. This train does not offer reserved seating. There are small and expensive parking lots at the top of each village.
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