Italy's Cinque Terre Five Lands In Medieval Italy Hiking in the villages
on trails between the vineyards.
Cinque Terre Villages, Five Lands For Hiking Italy's Coast
Cinque Terre Hiking, Italy
Hiking the grape orchards and olive groves high above the Mediterranean Sea, you look down on five tiny villages tucked into the rocks between the beach and the steep hills.
Cinque Terre describes five fishing villages that have resisted progress for a thousand years and still live by simple grape growing, fishing, and the harvesting of olives.
While hiking above the villages on the steep hills, you see the Mediterranean Sea below each town from the necklace of trails that connects the olive groves and vineyards.
There is not much to do in Cinque Terre but hike the trails during the day and in the evening, dine on pesto and olives, and fish from the daily harvest while drinking the local white wine and watching Mediterranean sunsets over the Sea.
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The Gothic architecture of stone structures cobbled together in villages joined by a network of paths fills a
dream for travelers who long to sense, if just for a moment, the life of people in Medieval times.
The five villages (Cinque Terre Map) still practice the simple farm life and they harvest of the sea in small
boats making Cinque Terre's villages different than most seaside towns.
The villages were built into rocky enclaves on the mountainside a thousand years ago and are now surrounded
by Italy's premier nature park.
The Park preserves the environment and the air quality by operating a shuttle between villages.
Walking the trails above the villages is the ideal way to get around, however, the view while walking in the
terraced vineyards of the coast is a stunner.


These villages date back to the twelfth century. Manarola is only a half hour walk from Riomaggiore.
Corniglia, a half-hour hike from Manarola heading north occupies a formidable rock promontory jutting from
the sea with two small beaches at its sides. You can reach Corniglia by walking from Maranola or from the
railway stop and then up a long flight of steps.
Vernaza, the fourth village heading north has sheltered cove and several restaurants near the sea. Vernazza's
harbor once sheltered a Roman installation.
Italy's Cinque Terre
Riomaggiore Hotels and B&B are available in
this the first Cinque Terre Village you encounter
driving north from La Spezia or coming by train
form the south. There is just one pedestrian only
street leading down to the sea. Some hotels
have parking and you drive through a gate to
reach them. Otherwise no cars clog the roads.
A trail leads out of Riomaggiore north along the
shore to the next village, Manarola.
The Via del'Amore as it is called has a dozen
little trails leading to outcrops where sunbathers
find some privacy and hikers feel the breeze from
the Mediterranean Sea.
Cinque Terre Villages, Hiking Trails between Five Coastal Villages
Imagine walking through grape orchards and olive groves high above the
Mediterranean Sea and looking down to five tiny villages tucked into the rocks between
the beach and the steep hills. You have stepped back in time to Italy's Cinque
Terre, fishing villages that have resisted progress for a thousand years.
From your vantage point, the Mediterranean spreads below each village while a
necklace of trails connects olive grove and vineyard in the hills high above the villages.
There are few roads in the villages. Cinque Terre's main link with the outside world is
the railway which weaves in and out of tunnels along the coast. Each village has its own
character although they are only a few minutes apart by train or coastal passenger ferry.
Otherwise you get from village to village by a network of ancient trails.
The Five Lands describes five small fishing villages in the hills above the Bay of
Ligeria : Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso.
One of the best preserved natural areas of the Mediterranean, Cinque Terre residents
enjoy a life of fishing and viticulture which has created a unique landscape with stone
walls so extensive some say that they equal the Great Wall of China. Gothic
architecture, the extensive network of paths joining the villages along the border of sea
and the farming life make the Cinque Terre a place comfortable in another era.
Built into stony niches on mountainside cliffs that shoot up from the sea, Cinque Terre
forms a formidable barrier to development and a perfect nature park.
Located near the Gulf of the Poets, as the nearby waters are called, Cinque Terre has
always attracted visitors because of its pace and charm. Byron and Shelly tramped
these coasts absorbing the climate, art, history, traditions, and the cuisine of Liguria.
Portovenere and the nearby cities of La Spezia, and Lerici act as relatively modern
bookends for the ancient villages of the Cinque Terre.
The next village Monterosso al Mare can be a two-hour hike but the ferry stops at the cove and will shuttle between
the two. Monterosso al Mare has a sandy beach and a boat dock where the water taxis connect to the other
villages.
Cinque Terre Climate, What To Wear in Cinque Terre, Italy:
If you are flying into Rome for a trip to Cinque Terre you can count on the temperature being warm year round.
You can keep your wardrobe simple. Base it on a few neutral colors like brown and black to travel light and
flexible.
Black is a popular color for clothing in Italy and does not show wrinkles. Add accent with colorful scarves.
Shopping for them in Rome or the cities along the way could be fun. You only need three or four to add a
different accent of color each day. Any color harmonizes with the basic brown, grey, or black. A scarf can go
around the neck, around the waist, or on the head and can add a lively accent to the simple brown or black.
Men can stick to the basic black or brown also and bring a few colorful sweaters to accent. Rome is a
sophisticated city and could require formal dress in some restaurants (Necktie suit jacket, dress)
Cinque Terre will be casual dress throughout. Hiking clothes for trail use between villages
Rome has a climate similar to the mid USA at sea level, cool Dec. Jan. 40s but no ice or snow, warm summers,
June July August, 80s possible light rain in Spring.
Cinque Terre is north of Rome on the Mediterranian Coast south of Genoa.
Speed limits in Italy will be clearly marked and the Rotary will be a welcome site with its directions to various
towns. Gassing up is similar to US with credit card and automatic shut-off at modern pumps. Car rental are
available in all large cities. Italian law states that you should have n International Driving Permit although the
rental car companies will ask only for your home State drivers license and passport
Information for those Renting a
vehicle in Rome
(Note: Vehicle rentals at the airport include an airport tax}
Nonstop trains run to Rome's Termini Train Station from 7:30 am to 10 Pm
If you will cab into the city the licensed Taxis with a meter are the best option.
Cinque Terre Lodging and Hotels
You can find lodging and hotels in La Spezia if you travel from the south to Cinque Terre.
The first village, Riomaggiore, can provide lodging and the start of the Walking Tours. Manarolla is the next village
to the north where you can find Hotels and Walking Tours. Each village offers Hotels in Cinque Terre. Vernazza
is the fourth village along the coast and it offers lodging and hiking trails in the steep hills which will lead to Cinque
Terre accommodations in the fifth village, Monterosso where you will find beaches.
Many options are available: B&Bs, hostels, rooms, and luxury lodging with parking. The villages are connected by
train, boat, and the trails famed for Cinque Terre hiking,
The Cinque Terre villages are five
lands with hiking trails above
Italy's coast. Cinque Terre offers
Manarolla hotels, Vernazza
lodging, and ample Monterosso
lodging near the beaches for
Cinque Terre walking tours and
Cinque Terre hiking vacations.