Let’s take a trip.
It’s time to get out of the house. And where better to go than some place along the coast? I’m not talking about Hawaii, Jamaica, or even Australia. I’m talking about Italy. When you think of Italy, do you think of marine life, colorful buildings, and beaches? Probably not.
One of my favorite places in Italy is not Pisa, Rome, or even Venice. It is Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is a region in Northwestern Italy, which consists of five towns within hiking distance of one another. These towns, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Monterosso, and Vernazza, are located on the coast of the Mediterannean Sea, more specifically, the Ligurian Sea.
What is so special about each town?
Riomaggiore:
Known for its iconic red building and framed by its harbor, Riomaggiore is a town that has about one main street. It has lots of colorful buildings, friendly people, and cheeriness (like the other five towns). This town is special to me because I painted a picture of it before I even knew where it was when I was in high school.
Manarola:
Manarola is a town with an elevated outlook over its harbor. It is built in the hillside, but people can still access the water by climbing down the rocks. There is one general main street that leads from the elevated harbor to the outskirts of the city. It is the town famous for cliff jumping. There is a cliff in the middle of the harbor, which I would say is about 30-40 feet or 9-12 meters.
Corniglia:
Corniglia is the town upon the hill. It is a smaller town, with lots of friendly locals, tight alleyways, and artistic decorations. Very charming, bright, colorful, and small, this is one of the cutest of the Cinque Terre towns. It is best to hike the trail from Corniglia to Vernazza from here, if the trail is open. Check your dress and trail status before you go. If you aren’t wearing closed-toed shoes, they may not let you hike.
Vernazza:
One of the other more prominent towns of Cinque Terre, Vernazza is probably one of the more photographed. It has an iconic tower at the tip of an isthmus, and the city has a very attractive market. Among the different stores, if you look closely, you can see the market cat- a white cat that sleeps in baskets and accepts petting from visitors. Definitely worth a visit! Enjoy a to-go lunch at one of the sandwich shops, and take it and sit at the beach side. Much more value than paying unnecessary money for restaurant lunch and not even getting to experience the waves splashing on your feet!
Monterosso:
If your idea of seaside vacations is beaches, Monterosso is for you. The pebbly beaches allow visitors to ease into the water, lay out under the sun, or comfortably watch others from afar. Umbrellas are provided for those lucky enough to snag them, or bring your own. The town is framed by hilly green orchards and fields. In the town, you can find lots of antique stores, touristy stops, and more. Monterosso definitely has a lot more shops compared to the other towns.
Must dos in Cinque Terre:
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Hike the trail between all 5 towns. If that is not possible, hike at least one. It is common for the trail to wash out in a big storm, so make sure you know the status of the trails before you go. Also make sure you are dressed for hiking. They control your dress before you go hiking on the trail, and discourage all people from wearing open-toed shoes.
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Travel to each town so you can get a charm necklace. It really is cool to visit all 5 AND have something to show for your efforts!
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Watch the sunset in any one of the five towns. It is especially pretty if you can get a seat on a boat or find a place on the wave breaker rocks, so you can see the sunset over the city.
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Cliff jump in Manarola. If you are not a fan of cliff-jumping, watch the others and encourage them. Trust me, from experience, it really is supportive!
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Look for the market cat in Vernazza!
I would definitely go back to Cinque Terre, and I really hope that you consider it as one of your travel destinations. You won’t be disappointed!
I am also upgrading to another format to share my travel experiences: Youtube. My channel is called “Ellies Hidden Gems”. I would love to see you there and I truly value each and every one of my readers and Youtube channel subscribers!
Watch my video below to see more photos of the northern Italian region. Make sure you watch all the way to the end to find out why I wanted to visit Cinque Terre, and hear my special greeting to you. The link to the Youtube video about Cinque Terre is here: https://youtu.be/uSJJs0ecMtA
“JOBS FILL YOUR POCKETS, BUT ADVENTURES FILL YOUR SOUL.” – JAIME LYN BEATTY