Five Villages on a Ligurian Cliff Edge
The Cinque Terre, meaning the Five Lands, is a stretch of rugged coastline in Liguria, north-western Italy, made up of five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Painted houses in ochre, rose and apricot stack up narrow valleys and cling to rock above the sea, while vineyards and olive terraces, built by hand over centuries, climb the slopes behind them. Portovenere, the Cinque Terre and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto were inscribed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, and the Cinque Terre National Park protects the setting.
Each village has its own character. Monterosso is the largest and has the only broad sandy beach, Vernazza clusters around a small harbour and a medieval castle tower, and Corniglia sits high on a promontory, reached by a long brick stairway or a shuttle bus from its station. Manarola and Riomaggiore tumble towards tiny harbours where boats are pulled up on ramps. There are no grand sights to tick off. The experience is the villages themselves, the light on the water and the pace of life between them.
Walking, Boats and Anchovies
The best way to know the Cinque Terre is to move between the villages. A network of footpaths, including the celebrated Sentiero Azzurro, connects them along the cliffs and through the terraces, passing lemon trees, vines and views that open over the whole coast. A local train links every village in minutes through tunnels, and in season ferries run along the shore, offering the best view back at the painted houses. Many walkers plan a half-day on foot with a train or boat back, finishing with an afternoon in the sea.
Food here is intensely local. Anchovies from Monterosso are served fresh, salted or fried, trofie with pesto reflects the region's best-known recipe, and focaccia appears at every bakery. The vineyards produce the white Cinque Terre wine and the rare sweet Sciacchetra, made from dried grapes. A hotel group or guesthouse operator could showcase the villages through their tables, guests tasting the same anchovies and pesto that locals have served for generations.
Read the full Cinque Terre guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitCinqueTerre.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.