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Cinque Terre Travel Guide

Travel Author

Stig Albeck

City Map

City Introduction

Cinque Terre is the name of a beautiful and world-famous stretch of coastline on the Italian Riviera in Liguria. The area includes the nature along the breathtaking coast and the five picturesque towns of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore in that order from north to south. The area is designated as the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre National Park, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The coast consists of steep cliffs, where terraces have been built over the centuries, where the towns grew and developed into the beautiful and charming places they are today. The roads to here are small and slow-moving, and the geography of the towns does not provide good parking options. The best and most exciting way to get to the Cinque Terre is by railway, which opened in 1874. It stops in all five towns in the national park every few minutes.

Tickets for the regional trains on the route between La Spezia and Levanto can be purchased for a single price for one-day travel. It is a smart way to go to Cinque Terre, because you can go from town to town and get good impressions of the entire Cinque Terre on the same ticket. If you start from La Spezia, for example, there are good opportunities for parking a car at La Spezia Centrale.

The railway to the towns in Cinque Terre gives a good impression of the difficult accessibility to the coastal towns of Cinque Terre. Several of the stations are wedged between two mountains, and some of the platforms are partially under mountains, because there is no room for anything other than some of the stations on the short stops between the tunnel sections of the railway. You can also choose to sail to La Spezia from, for example, Genoa and La Spezia, and this is obviously a different experience than by train.

Top Attractions

Monterosso al Mare

Monterosso al Mare is the northernmost town in the Cinque Terre. It is known for its rich history, dating back to the Middle Ages, when the town was founded as a protection against pirate attacks. Today, Monterosso al Mare is well-known and easily accessible by rail, and is known for its lemon trees and the production of white wine, which are an important part of the town’s culture and economy.

Among the most notable attractions in Monterosso al Mare is the old town, with its narrow, winding streets and colorful buildings. You can walk along the main street, Via Roma, and at the end of it is the town’s long sandy beach, the largest in the Cinque Terre, which attracts many tourists every year. Another popular attraction is the scenic hiking trails that connect Monterosso al Mare with the other villages of the Cinque Terre, offering spectacular views of the Ligurian Sea.

 

Vernazza

Vernazza is the second northernmost of the five picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre. The town’s history dates back to Roman times, and it was first mentioned as a fortified town in 1080. Vernazza played an important role as a maritime base for the Obertenghi family, an Italian noble family, and was a strategic point of defense against pirates. Over two centuries, Vernazza also contributed its port, navy, and soldiers to the Republic of Genoa’s conquest of Liguria.

Vernazza has preserved its historic charm with narrow streets and colorful houses, and is known for its natural harbor, the only one in the Cinque Terre. Here, Via Roma and Via Visconti lead to the harbor and the sea. Among the most notable sights in Vernazza is Castello Doria, an ancient fortress with stunning views of the town and the sea. Another important attraction in Vernazza is the church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia, built in the 13th century and known for its unique architecture and octagonal bell tower.

 

Corniglia

Corniglia is the middle of the five villages of the Ligurian Cinque Terre. It is unique in the region due to its location high on a cliff overlooking the sea, where the other towns along the coast are by the sea. Corniglia’s history dates back to Roman times, and it is believed to have been a colony of slaves who took the name Cornelia from their slave owner. In the Middle Ages, the area was ruled by the Lavagna Counts and later by the Fieschi family. Corniglia is known for its terraced vineyards, where grapes are grown for the famous white wine Vernaccia di Corniglia, which has been known since the 14th century.

In Corniglia you can see the church Chiesa di San Pietro, built in the 14th century. It is located in the narrow streets of the town and is known for its Baroque style with Gothic and Ligurian elements. Another popular attraction is the Scalinata Lardarina, a staircase of over 370 steps that connects Corniglia station to the town, and from the stairs there is a fantastic view of the sea. As with the other Cinque Terre towns, you can also enjoy the scenic hiking trails that connect Corniglia to the rest of the region.

 

Manarola

Manarola is the second-southernmost of the five picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre. The town’s name is believed to come from the Latin magna rota, meaning great wheel. The name refers to an ancient watermill that once stood in the town. Manarola was probably founded by the Romans and developed around a stream, making it an important agricultural area. In the Middle Ages, the town became part of the Republic of Genoa and experienced significant growth as a producer of oil and wine.

Today, Manarola is known for its colorful houses that practically cling to the cliffs, and its narrow streets that wind through the town. The main street is Via Renato Birolli, where you can see many of the town’s boats when they are not at sea. The port area can be found at the end of the street, where you can also get a panoramic view of the town from the path along the cliffs north of the port. Among the most notable sights in Manarola is the Chiesa di San Lorenzo, built in 1338 and an excellent example of Gothic-Ligurian architecture.

 

Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore is the southernmost of the five villages of the Cinque Terre. Its history dates back to the 13th century, when it was founded by inhabitants of the surrounding hills who sought safety on the coast. Riomaggiore was first mentioned in official documents in 1251, when the town swore allegiance to the Republic of Genoa, and it grew as an important maritime base and developed economically through trade and agriculture, especially wine production. Riomaggiore is still known for its vineyards and the production of the local wine Sciacchetrà.

Riomaggiore has retained its authentic charm with colorful houses and narrow streets that wind through the town to the sea, and the atmosphere is one of the reasons to go here. Castello di Riomaggiore is one of the most famous attractions in Riomaggiore. It is an ancient fortress on top of the central part of the town, from which there are fantastic views of the town and the sea. Another important attraction is the church Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista, which was built in 1340 and is known for its Gothic architecture.

Other Attractions

Day Trips

La Spezia

La Spezia is a port city located on the Ligurian Sea. It is naturally protected in the Gulf of La Spezia, which provides space for one of Italy’s major commercial and military ports. For many centuries up to the mid-19th century, La Spezia was a smaller city that was strongly inspired by Genoa and Genoese traditions in construction, among other things.

In 1861, the Italian government placed a large naval port in La Spezia, which caused the city to grow rapidly into the modern port city it is today. Now, for example, a number of cruise ships sail from the port on tours of the Mediterranean.

Read more about La Spezia

 

Pisa

Pisa is one of the old Italian city-states, which today offers fantastic sights and a lovely atmosphere. The city is one of the great cultural cities in Tuscany and lies beautifully along the banks of the river Arno close to the estuary in the Ligurian Sea. The most famous work is The Leaning Tower.

A trip to Pisa is, however, much more than an encounter with the Leaning Tower. It’s also strolling in a beautiful city center with a wealth of highlights. The city’s magnificent buildings were created on an economic boom that came with the city’s naval dominance in the western Mediterranean throughout the 1000s and 1300s, and this is enjoyed today.

Read more about Pisa

 

Genoa

Genoa is one of the great and old merchant and trade cities of Northern Italy, and for centuries it was an independent state as the Republic of Genoa. The wealth of this period from trade on the world seas did result in many of the city’s magnificent buildings and sights that you can enjoy today.

A large number of Genova’s distinguished mansions are inscribed on UNESCO’s list of world heritage. The mansions were part of a formal system for receiving important visits during the time of the Republic, and a walk along Via Garibaldi is one of the best places to experience the diversity of the mansion buildings of Genoa’s leading families.

Read more about Genoa

 

Parma

Parma is an Italian metropolis in the Emilia-Romagna region. It was probably founded by the Etruscans, and in the year 183 BC Rome established a colony here. They established a forum as the center of the city, and Parma of that time obtained the title of Julia in the Roman Empire.

In the Middle Ages, Parma became an important stop on the road between Rome and Northern Europe, and new buildings were constructed. Over the following many centuries, Parma was part of changing kingdoms, before in 1860 the city became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

Read more about Parma

Geolocation

In short

Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy[/caption]

Overview of Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is the name of a beautiful and world-famous stretch of coastline on the Italian Riviera in Liguria. The area includes the nature along the breathtaking coast and the five picturesque towns of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore in that order from north to south. The area is designated as the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre National Park, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

About the Whitehorse travel guide

Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
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The Whitehorse travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Canadian city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

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Travel Expert

Stig Albeck

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