We suggest a minimum of a five day break to the Cinque Terre in North West Italy wallowing in the uniqueness of the five coastal villages (Riomaggiore, Manarola , Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare).
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Cinque Terre, North West Italy tour Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/p0tLqsiT44Q
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Cinque Terre Video_2:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/81484htuWJY
Cinque Terre, North West Italy.
For a five day break, the Cinque Terre in Italy is wonderful in its simplicity. There is still a feeling of authenticity about the five remote fishing villages, each with its own different personality. There are still few roads connecting these, until recently, remote isolated coastal hamlets, accessible to each other via stunning mountain and coastal trails. These trails are a hill walkers dream. Modern access has introduced a train that connects them to Genoa, Pisa and Rome. Four of the five villages can be visited by boat tour. This seaward perspective gives the visitor a greater appreciation of the steep slopes on which the villages are constructed. The closest airports are Genoa and Pisa. On our trip we choose to fly into Pisa and from there we were able to get an integrated train ticket which covered the PisaMover into Pisa, the intercity train to La Spezia and then a regional train to the Cinque Terre - all possible in just over an hour.
A sense of Cinque Terre, North West Italy
Italian is the language of the Cinque Terre, however, the vast majority of people speak very good English.
The Cinque Terre have been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997.
Fantastic paths and trails cross the seemingly impregnable cliff sides make it an ideal destination for hill-walkers. The railway line, introduced in the 19th century, ferries those less fleet of foot and the foot sore trekkers from village to village. Likewise, a boat tour of the villages is a great way to experience this beautiful coastline with its rugged cliffs. The villages themselves have been in existence since the medieval period. Cars have been restricted from journeying along the Cinque Terre, except for services and local access. Tourists are drawn from all over the world to view its iconic colourful coastline villages, chiselled into the cliff sides. These villages are then in-turn surrounded by steeply terraced cliffs housing complicated fields, gardens and vineyards. Each village is a product of over two millennia of painful non mechanised construction.
Recommendations for Cinque Terre, North West Italy
Purchase a Cinque Terre Card to cover all trains and hiking fees. The Card is good value and it can be purchased in advance online. Do not forget your walking boots.
It was our preference to stay in Hotel Bahia in Monterosso al Mare. Monterosso is the most westerly of the five villages and it is the only village that has a large beautiful white sandy beach front. It is also the flattest of the five villages.
A great way to spend five days in Cinque Terre, in our opinion, would be something along the following:
Day 1 - 3: Each day take the train or boat to one or two, if time permits, of the other four villages. The villages are ordered from west to east starting with Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The beach in Monterosso is always a welcoming reward for the weary traveller in the late afternoon.
Day 1 -3: Instead of taking the train, walk between the villages via the mountain and coastal trails and use the train or boat as your return taxi, the further you venture out. Each of the villages are equidistant from each other at only a five to six minute train ride each journey.
Day 4: Take the trip to Portofino. Get a train from Monterosso to Rapallo, a journey of an 1.5 hours, with only one change at Sestri Levante. From Rapallo walk the seven kilometres of red carpet from the railway station all the way to the centre of Portfino. It is a journey well worth doing, as the carpet takes the walker along the sea front, through a forest and down into the marina in Portofino, which is a more sophisticated, albeit somewhat more expensive, delightful town.
Day 5: Return to your preferred village, everyone’s is different. Spend more time soaking up the atmosphere and treat yourself to an extended Italian style four course lunch accompanied with wines of your choice. Stroll around the village for your post lunch constitutional and find yourself a wine bar with a view, of which there are many, and let Italian charm enter into your pores.
As all good things come to an end. So its time to pack up. If your flight is in the evening, it is possible to leave your luggage at Pisa Airport’s left luggage, and take a tour around Pisa to capture the “holding the leaning tower of Pisa up or pushing it over”, photos and selfies.
Walk the Via Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola if it is open. It is a beautiful flat cliff edge walk that will only take you about 20 minutes to walk. If you need to reduce walking, in each village, take the tunnel from the train station to the village centre, instead of the uphill routes. The tunnels are all clean, well light and safe to use.
Our must see recommendation for a trip to Cinque Terre, North West Italy:-
(1) Take the mountain and coastline trails between the villages.
(2) Do the the short train hop journeys to the neighbouring villages
(3) Strolling around anyone (or all) of the five villages can be an awe-inspiring experience
(4) Be sure to make the trip to Portofino, with all its charm.
The average cost per person / per week is €750 (depending on type of hotel/ accommodation selected)
All of the tour tickets are available over the web where some savings can be made.
“You should travel away from home, to really appreciate the value of what you have at home, on your return.”
“Happiness is found in the journey and rarely in the destination, alone.”
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