7-8 May 2017
"The Cinque Terre ("Five Lands") is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera and comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Over the centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible corporate development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and narrow winding roads severely limit access by car."
We drove to Corniglia (pronounced "Cornelia"), against the advice of our lodging host, but it was no worse than driving high mountain roads in the Western US - narrow and winding, and only became really exciting when someone came from the other direction. We even found parking a half mile's walk from town.
"The Cinque Terre ("Five Lands") is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera and comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Over the centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible corporate development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and narrow winding roads severely limit access by car."
We drove to Corniglia (pronounced "Cornelia"), against the advice of our lodging host, but it was no worse than driving high mountain roads in the Western US - narrow and winding, and only became really exciting when someone came from the other direction. We even found parking a half mile's walk from town.
There are no art museums here. It's all about the trekking between towns, and seeing grand vistas. The trails were well maintained, but the ups and downs were tough.
If you don't want to walk, you can arrive by boat.
Or arrive by train, which most seemed to be doing, especially cruise ship visitors from the port city to the south.
Agricultural terraces.
There are no gondola rides here - you walk up to these heights.