The Cinque Terre are five small villages on the "Costa Ligure of Levante". The villages from north to south are: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The five villages were only reached by the outside world about one hundred years ago, when the railway line was built.
Duration: At your own pace
Overview: The village of Riomaggiore boasts the typical terraced structure of villages built vertically. The village, dating from the early 13th century, is known for its historic character and its wine, produced by the town's vineyards. The town climbs up along the ridges overlooking the sea and it is characterized from the typical stone houses with colored façades and slate-roofs. Riomaggiore's tower houses have two entry points: one is at the level of one street and the other at the level of the upper street. See the Castello sul colle di Cerricò, with a panoramic view overlooking the sea or the church of San Giovanni Battista. Walk along the Via dell'Amore, a paved path dug into the rock, that ends in Manarola.
Duration: At your own pace
Overview: It is the second smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns frequented by tourists. Manarola's primary industries have traditionally been fishing and wine-making. The local wine, called Sciacchetrà, is especially renowned; Its houses look like a natural progression of the narrow and long cliff. Historians believe that the name of this town comes from "magna rota", litterally "big wheel", meaning the wheel of a water mill.
In the lower city you can still see the old mill or oil mill, that was recently restored. In the high part of the town see the church of San Lorenzo, built in 1338 in Gothic style, with three beautiful naves and baroque interiors. You must not miss the "White bell tower" an ancient watchtower, the ancient San Rocco Hospital and the Oratory of Disciplinati della Santissima Annunziata dated around 1400. Sea lovers won't be disappointed: going down in direction of the beach you'll find a lot of corners from which you'll enjoy a breathtaking view.
Duration: At your own pace
Overview: The ancient Roman village of Corniglia is situated on an impressive 100 meter high cliff. It's the only town in the Cinque Terre that can't be reached from the sea. Therefore to reach Corniglia it is necessary to walk up the "Landarina", an exhausting flight of steps made of brick (the flight are 33 and the steps 377), or, if you prefer, you can follow the vehicular road that, from the station, leads to the village. The name of the town "Corniglia" comes from the name of a Latin farmer "Corneliu" who produced the well known white wine, already famous in Roman times. In the delightful village, visit the Gothic church of San Pietro and the XVIII century square "Largo Taragio" with the Oratory of Santa Caterina that stands over the houses. Corniglia is a valuable jewel, made of alleys and little streets dug into the rock, a beautiful pebble beach called "Spiaggione" and a transparent and crystalline sea.
Duration: At your own pace
Overview: Vernazza a serene seaside village situated on an impressive cliff. In the past, it was the harbor from which the boats that protected the coasts from the Saracens, sailed. Enjoy the the magical atmosphere of this village: mysterious alleys, hidden among the little and lovely red, yellow and pink houses that in the summertime become crowded with tourists. Vernazza is one of the 100 most beautiful villages of Italy and it preserves its maritime vocation. Reach this town by sea and admire its beautiful port starred by delicate colored houses. Visit the church of Santa Margherita of Antiochia and the remains of the ancient fortress: the towers of the XI century and the Doria's castle, the tower of the friary of Padri Riformati di San Francesco and the tower Belforte. The wonderful Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Reggio has a tree-lined square perfect for meditation and relaxation.
Duration: At your own pace
Overview: Monterosso is the place that Eugenio Montale loved most: the Italian writer, who won the Nobel Prize in 1975, used to spend his summers here. This village maintains its maritime tradition and it still has signs of the past sea battles: the medieval tower that now is the bell tower of San Giovanni Church, the castle that overlooks the sea with its three round towers, and the Aurora tower, the only survivor of 13 towers that protected the village. Walk the narrow and labyrinthine alleys and spend some time in the Centro Storico of the town, where the church of San Giovanni Battista stands, or remain in the modern Fegina area with its beach and see the Montale family liberty style villa. Monterosso's sandy beach is the biggest of the Cinque Terre beaches.
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