EXPLORING CINQUE TERRE

Exploring Cinque Terre made me fall in love with Italy! For those who don’t know, Cinque Terre is a coastal area within Liguria, in the northwest of Italy. It contains 5 centuries-old seaside villages including Vernazza, Manarola, Monterosso al Mare, Riomaggiore and Corniglia. Each of the town is different and beautiful in its own way. I stayed at Monterosso since that was the location of my best friend’s wedding. And I toured the other villages, except for Corniglia due to lack of time and due to it being the most hilliest. Below is a summary of my thoughts of each village and why you should explore Cinque Terre, Italy this summer!

RIOMAGGIORE

Riomaggiore is the most southern village of Cinque Terre. It’s a great place to start your cinque Terre village tour but be prepared to walk uphill. The hills are no joke so I highly recommend bringing water and wearing comfortable shoes. The town itself is beautiful with typical stone houses with colored façades and slate-roofs. There are also tons of shops and dining options. A lot of people get the salted fish so make sure you try that too! I personally feel like my best photos from a scenic angle were from Riomaggiore. Even though walking uphills was difficult, the views were worth it!

VERNAZZA

Vernazza is one of the 5 centuries-old villages that make up the Cinque Terre. It remains one of the truest “fishing villages” on the Italian Riviera. Vernazza has a natural pier with an amphitheatre shape making it maybe the most photographed village of the Cinque Terre. It is the only natural port of Cinque Terre and is famous for its elegant houses. The best view is by the water with the the Church of Santa Margheritain the background. Make sure you walk all the way there when you enter Vernazza. You can also swim or go boating here so it’s a great way to spend an afternoon or full day!

MANAROLA

Manarola is a small town in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northern Italy. It is the second-smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns, with a population of 353.  People say it’s the most romantic town and I can see why since it’s built on a high rock 70 metres above sea level. Like the other villages in Cinque Terre, you will notice the colorful buildings and hills. This is a great place for those who like to hike. If you want to just explore, you can do that we well. As you enter the town, you will eventually come across a small section with shops right near Chiesa di San Lorenzo, a church dedicated to St. Lawrence. This is a great way to support local vendors!

MONTEROSSO AL MARE

Monterosso al Mare is the largest of the five coastal village and is my favorite! I am biased since I stayed there for the weekend, but I’m sure you’ll understand why.  Monterosso is divided in two parts marked by the medieval tower of Aurora. The new part of town, Fegina, is full of life and has a more modern feel to it due to tourism. The old town of Monterosso is dominated by the ruins of the castle and has more history and charm.

 I actually prefer old town because I loved roaming around the medieval streets and admiring the multi-coloured terraced houses. Monterosso is also home to a popular beach where locals and tourists lay out. You will probably recognize the beach by the colorful orange umbrealls. This is a beautiful destination to visit especially if you’re in Italy and makes for a great holiday with friends, family or partner!

CORNIGLIA

Corniglia is located in the middle of the Cinque Terre  and is the only town without sea access. There aren’t any hotels here and it’s the quietest of the five villages. As I mentioned previously, I didn’t have time to visit all five villages. My best friend told me it was okay to miss Corniglia so I didn’t visit. However, if you have time, I still think it’s a good idea to see all five towns!