|  A unique characteristic of the area are
the terraced wineyards sustained by dry walling, a perfect
example of landscape architecture created by man in inaccessible
surroundings. The rare and disappearing species of flora
and fauna are protected throughout the Cinque terre as
far as Porto Venere in a park that is both nature and marine.
Panoramic foot paths that have been cared for and clearly
indicated by the C.A.I. Association, are well used by walkers
and trekkers alike, and along some paths one is likely
to meet up with horseriders.
You can finish with five days of hiking
among the villages of the Cinque Terre. This rugged stretch
of coast is one of the most picturesque in Europe and combines
seafaring with traditional Mediterranean agriculture and
food.
5 lands on the Levante Riviera (ligurian
coast)
Leaves from La
Spezia and
goes through the Cinque Terre (five lands) as far as Levanto,
Bonassola, Framura and Deiva.
The coast road takes
you to Riomaggiore and Manarola
where, the sea, the hills, the wineyards, the old foshing
villages, and the Genovese style churches add together to
result in enthralling scenery. From Riomaggiore to Manrola
there is the renowned Via dell'Amore (lover's pathway) cut
out of the costal rock.
The unique characteristic of the area are
the terraced wineyards sustained by dry walling, a perfect
example of landscape architecture created by man in inaccessible
surroundings. The rare and disappearing species of flora
and fauna are protected throughout the Cinque terre
as far as Porto Venere in a park that is
both nature and marine.
Panoramic foot paths that have been cared
for and clearly indicated by the C.A.I. Association, are
well used by walkers and trekkers alike, and along some
paths one is likely to meet up with horseriders.
Corniglia town winding
up the hillside and Monterosso spreading out at sea level
both have notable artistic scenic references. At Monterosso
are the Medioeval "Torre Aurora" (the Dawn Tower)
which divides the old part of the town from the new part
(Fegina), and the Van Dyck Crucifix in the San Francisco
church and on the hillside the 18th century Sanctuary of
Soviore.
Vernazza, where the parish
church once again repeats the Romanic-Genovese themes. A
pictoresque walk along the Cinque Terre hillside connects
the Sanctuaries amid fairy tale scenery above the villages
which are above the sea. The route along the paths amongst
the greenery is particulary pleasant.
Levanto is a modern
and inviting town where one can admire the 18th century
Parish Church and the castle with above it the delightful
hillside villages.
The peace and silence is a noticeable characteristic
throughout the Riviera. Bonassola spreading out at sea level,
and Framura with its picturesque small villages are both
worth a visit from the tourist with time to spare.
Deiva, with its sandy shoreline and charming scenery completes
the Province.
Famous since ancient times the wines: dry
white and "sciacchetra' " (a sweet dessert wine)
from the Cinque Terre and the dry whites from Levanto, Bonassola
and Framura.
Eighteen kilometers of sheer rocky coastline
in northern Italy, terraced hills and vineyards sloping
steeply down to the sea. Five little villages are built
into the rocks between the beach and the hills. You can
hike, swim, drink red wine, and watch blazing Mediterranean
sunsets away from the tourist throngs in the Italian cities
and the French Riviera. Centuries old footpaths and mule
tracks wind about 500 to 1,000 feet above the sea, leading
through olive groves and vineyards, orchards and chestnut
woods.
Each village has its own character, they are a few minutes
apart by train.
There are almost no cars as the villages are not easily
accessible by road, but the main railway between Rome and
Paris runs along the coast, mainly in tunnels.
"A sleepy, romantic, and inexpensive
town on the Riviera without a tourist in sight. That's the
mirage travelers chase in busy Nice and Cannes. Pssst! Paradise
sleeps just across the border in Italy's Cinque Terre."
The Cinque Terre is always
one of the top summer destinations for people who enjoy
sun and beautiful views. Take a day trip to Portofino, spend
a day exploring the five little towns or just relax on the
beach.
The stretch of coast north of La Spezia
is known as ``Five Lands", due to the five small fishing
villages perched on its coast. The isolation of these villages
-- up to 50 years ago you could only reach them by boat
-- has allowed them to preserve their authentic fishing
village charm, with virtually no change in appearance since
they were first built.
Cinque Terre: Remote Riviera Paradise.
In this photo the Lovers Path. (click
on it to enlarge)
The five villages that
make up Cinque Terre are:
Monterosso - Largest and least quaint with
a beach and resort
Vernazza - Probably the most popular for
staying in
Manarola - Swim in the cove or enjoy a
waterfront meal
Corniglia - The only one of the villages
that isn't along the sea
Riomaggiore - Walk the Via del'Amore (Lovers
Path) from here to Manarola.
Vernazza is the
5 Terre village home. Its action is at the harbor, where
you'll find a tiny beach, outdoor restaurants and a tailgate-party
street market every Tuesday morning.
The town's only street connects the harbor with the train
station before melting into the vineyards. Like veins on
a grape leaf, paths and stairways connect the town's watercolor
huddle of houses.
Although Vernazza has only 500 residents, it's got an ATM,
two banks, several public phones, a laundromat, a grocery,
a bakery, a new Internet cafe, and, most important, a gelato
shop for connoisseurs of Italian ice cream.
When you're not wandering up and down Vernazza's main street,
try hiking. Good trails connect Cinque Terre's towns; experience
the region's best by hiking between all five-workaday Riomaggiore,
postcard-perfect Manarola, hilltop Corniglia,
Vernazza, and the resort town, Monterosso.
The entire hike can be done in about four hours, but allow
five for dawdling. Along the Cinque Terre, milk-run trains
run year-round and boats sail in summer, giving you an easy
opportunity to mix towns, hikes, trains and boats.
While you can detour to hilltop sanctuaries, I'd keep it
simple by following the easy red-and-white-marked low trails
between the villages. A good $ 5 hiking map, which is sold
in all the towns, is useful if you plan to tackle the expanded
version of this hike from Porto Venere through all the five
Cinque Terre towns to Levanto.
Savor your meals on the Cinque Terre.
This is the birthplace of pesto. Try it on spaghetti, trofie
or trenette. Basil, which loves the temperate Ligurian climate,
is mixed with cheese (half parmigiano cow cheese and half
pecorino sheep cheese), garlic, olive oil and pine nuts,
then poured over pasta.
The local white wine, Vino delle Cinque Terre, famous throughout
Italy, flows cheap and easy throughout the region. If you
like sweet, sherry-like wine, the local Sciacchetra wine
is worth the splurge. If your room is up a lot of steps,
be warned: Sciacchetra is 18 percent alcohol, while regular
wine is only 11 percent.
In the cool, calm evening, sit on the Vernazza breakwater
with a glass of your favorite beverage.
How to reach the five
lands (see
liguria region for more info and map)
To reach them, you have to take the train. On a whole, they
are generally car free.
We reached Manarola, where we stayed by travelling via La
Spezia. You can take a train to La Spezia
then transfer to one that will take you to Cinque Terre,
which is about 10 minutes away.
You can also take the train to travel from
one village to another. They are quick and painless rides.
In addition, you can hike between the villages, following
the coastal paths. The hikes range from very easy to difficult.
Many people say they
find Cinque Terre has turned very touristy, and yes, we
did see quite a few tourists. This in no way affected our
stay however and we had an amazing time.
 Walk
the Via del'Amore (Lovers Path) from here to Manarola the
most beautifull view in Tuscany !
The Gulf of the Poets has
always been a prestigious tourist destination for the atmosphere,
climate, art, history, traditions and cuisine of the area,
which covers the City Councils of La Spezia, Lerici and
Portovenere.
Gulf of poets Portovenere and the Five Lands are
located on
the Poet's Gulf, so named for its many famous bards, from Dante to Bryon. |
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