"Cinque Terre" in Italian means "five lands". There are five small villages nestled along the coastline literally. These five villages along the Ligurian coast of northwest Italy are one of the largest tourist resorts in Italy. Including Portovenere and archipelago, Cinqueterre is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
These villages born in the early 11th-century as fortresses. Between each village, there had been no road and the people had used ships for 1000 years. Cliffs of the intricate cove were favorable for natural fortress and this area had become isolated and grown up a unique culture and art. The food culture is distinctive. The rock land had hardly grown crops, and only successful cultivation was grapes. A rare wine made from few grapes was little and it has been traditionally prized as a noble wine.
The sweet wine called Sciacchetra' is very famous.
Different atmosphere of the evening in Monterosso al Mare. It can be seen only if you stay in location.
The five villages are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore in order from the west (near Genoa). After Riomaggiore there is a town of La Spezia, a starting point to Cinque Terre. Since each village has its own different character, we recommend to visit all of the Cinque Terre villages.
To travel in the zone of Cinque Terre, it's very convenience to use a unlimited ride card for bus and train. Trains between the each village run frequently, and the last train runs until late. With this card "the path of love" can be free admission. There is also a discount for trekking courses.
The Path of Love offers an excellent view over the cliff. It would be wonderful to take a walk here with your lover or family or friends.
Between the villages there are also trekking routes on the mountainside. The longest route (between Monterosso and Portovenere) takes 10 hours and 30 minutes! The shortest route takes 30 minutes (between Riomaggiore and Manarola). I tried to walk the route of one hour and 30 minutes from Vernazza to Corniglia. It was really comfortable to walk in the fresh wind, overlooking the cobalt blue sea below. Try it by all means!!
Along the way, there are some rough roads so sneakers are required.
If you are not ready for trekking, please go to see "the path of love (via dell'amore)". It's a rolling trail over the cliff between Riomaggiore and Manarola. It's paved well so is easy to walk. There are also some benches and cafes, so you can enjoy walking taking a break. It would be surely a wonderful memory if you can visit here with somebody whom you love.