I have never been to Italy, although I have been to many European countries. The Italy in my imagination is Rome with the ancient Roman imprint, the fashion capital of Milan, cities with unique architectural works such as the leaning tower of Pisa, Venice, Florence or the famous football atmosphere that fills the boot-shaped country. However, I started to explore Italy in a completely opposite way.
My first stop was an unfamiliar destination: the small Mediterranean villages of northwestern Italy – Cinque Terre, also known as the “land of colors” in the city of La Spezia. I can’t remember how I was lured here, but an unfamiliar journey with little intention ended up opening up a whole new and enchanting horizon. Given its isolated location, the easiest way to get to Cinque Terre is by train. Water is another option, but it’s not as popular, operating only from Easter to September each year.
Cinque Terre - meaning 5 lands - is a group of wonderfully beautiful villages, with names that are not easy to remember: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. To be honest, I had never known anything about this place, and I did not want to read what "humanity" had written before. I came here with a primitive curiosity, through the story of a friend and then accepted the existence of Cinque Terre with my own eyes and the remaining senses of myself.
The Mediterranean, there is no sea in the world that could be more beautiful. I sat for a long time on the shore of the Mediterranean, at the first sunset, watching the sun sink into the sea, and behind me, the light faded on the colorful walls. I began to accept the emotions of Cinque Terre like that, with a seagull standing silently on a rock, in the middle of the waves.
Italy has no shortage of rugged coastlines or picturesque towns and villages, but the five fishing villages of Cinque Terre are Italy's most iconic.Riomaggiorewas the first village I visited and stayed in all my days in Cinque Terre.
Here are the most beautiful colorful houses built in the 13th century and well preserved, absolutely a wonderful picture for visitors to relax at the table when the sun gradually fades. Riomaggiore village is also famous for its stairs leading down to the sea and connecting the houses together, there is a ramp for the villagers to anchor their boats with a landscape reminiscent of medieval fishing villages. Starting from Riomaggiore, poetic days come to me one after another, with the beauty of the villages and more than that, their fascinating history.
The history of Cinque Terre stretches back almost a millennium. The first historical documents about Cinque Terre date back to the 11th century. The people of Cinque Terre lived mainly by fishing, growing grapes for wine, vinegar and olive oil. Their ancestors had moved up high, building houses on the cliffs to escape the invading armies and the Greeks who came looking for a new life.
Of the five villages that make up Cinque Terre, only oneCornigliaThere is no beach or access to the blue sea. The village is located on a steep mountain peak, and to reach the center of the village, one can only walk through a winding staircase like a giant staircase with nearly 500 steps. The most interesting thing is that from the center of Corniglia, you can see all 4 other villages. The houses here have a slightly different architecture from the 4 surrounding villages as they are built low, very narrow and connected around the main street Fieschi. Visitors can see many traces of Roman civilization on the cobblestone streets and the old town center.
Manarolais the oldest village, built by the locals since 1261 with many vineyards surrounding the hills and famous for wine making. This is also the smallest village of Cinque Terre because Manarola was originally a hamlet of Riomaggiore. However, Manarola is still considered one of the 8 most beautiful villages in Italy, thanks to the beauty of its long, narrow, labyrinthine streets and pointed houses.
Vernazza, a small, peaceful harbor, is the “jewel” of the five villages of Cinque Terre and the most prosperous in the region. Looking at Vernazza from above, I felt like I was looking at a painting by the famous Austrian symbolist Gustav Klimt with his famous painting “The Kiss” – a symbol of the Art Nouveau movement.
VillageMonterossoPossessing one of the most attractive beaches in the world, Monterosso is considered one of the least polluted seas in the Mediterranean and has many fragrant orange and lemon groves. As the largest village of Cinque Terre, Monterosso is considered the cultural and political center of this region.
The five villages are connected by a network of trails, formed over thousands of years by the footsteps of local residents. Most of the trails follow the coastline and rugged cliffs, sometimes disappearing into the green forest. A railway line was also built here, which is still in operation today, mainly transporting tourists from far away. The trails make for great trekking routes and also provide great views of the colorful houses on the Mediterranean coast.
But Cinque Terre is not only beautiful in natural landscape, so it would be a pity to come here and leave in a day. The houses, small alleys, and simple lifestyle typical of Italian villages on the Mediterranean coast also have special appeal. And with just a few dozen to a few hundred euros, visitors can have a nice room or apartment and experience local life with the lovely owners.
The colorful neighborhoods, restaurants with typical local dishes and fine wines. Famous Italian pizza or ice cream, souvenirs..., all create a very special Cinque Terre.
Another special feature is that Cinque Terre is managed and operated very uniquely for tourism. The local tourism industry issues a Cinque Terre card, visitors can buy a card by day or multiple days, at an affordable price. The card helps visitors travel by train through all 5 villages regardless of time, number, free wifi and many other basic amenities. Also thanks to the local management, over the centuries, despite the impact of tourism development, Cinque Terre still retains its pristine beauty and unique ancient architecture.
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Move:The easiest way to get to Cinque Terre from other cities in Italy is by train. From major cities like Rome and Florence, there are direct trains to La Spezia - one of the main cities in the Liguria region. Then change trains in La Spezia, it takes only 5 minutes to reach Riomaggiore (part of Cinque Terre).
Time:Visitors can come here at any time of the year. However, the best time to explore Cinque Terre is from April to October.
Cuisine:Seafood and pesto pasta are two popular dishes in the region. The seafood is always fresh, caught the same day, and the dishes are often prepared according to family recipes. Cinque Terre is a grape-growing and wine-producing region, so don't miss the chance to taste some of the local wines. Most of the Cinque Terre wines are white, and one of the most famous is the sweet "sciacchetra" wine, which is often paired with biscotti for an afternoon snack.
Accommodation:Cinque Terre does not have many large hotels or resorts, so visitors often stay in the two large neighboring cities of Spezia or Genoa. However, with a fee of 50 - 100 euros, visitors can also easily stay at small hotels, guesthouses or homestays in Cinque Terre.
Experiences not to be missed:
- Watching sunrise and sunset on the Mediterranean coast
- Visit all five villages
- Cinque Terre wine tasting
- Trekking coastal trails and trails connecting villages
