Italy's
Cinque Terre
Five Lands
In Medieval Italy
You will seldom see cars in
the villages because there
are few roads.
How to Reach Cinque Terre by Train
You can reach Cinque Terre by the Trains that connect the
villages. Trains run through tunnels along the coast from La
Spezia to the south, from Pisa and from Rome. Trains also
reach Cinque Terre from the North, running from Genoa.
High speed trains connect to Monterosso al Mare and then
slow trains reach each village from there.
You can also reach the villages by the boats that shuttle to
each port, in most cases just lowering a ramp from the front of
the boat. (except Corniglia)
By Auto
A good road runs along the coast and you can reach Cinque
Terre from La Spezia or from Genoa to the north. You will not
need a vehicle once you arrive in Cinque Terre
By Boat
Consorzio Marittimo Touristico runs a fleet of boats that
service much of the Ligurian coast.
They run boats from La Spezia, The Gulf of Poets, and
Portovenere to the villages of the Cinque Terre. They also
connect to Levanto and Portofino
Once in the villages you can reach each village by the shuttle
boats that connect each village. ( except Corniglia)
Walking
The terraces of grape vines built over the centuries by the
farmers provide hiking trails through the steep hills that
connect the villages. That is the beauty of Cinque Terre,
simplicity and a pace of life ideal for hikers.
The five small fishing villages were carved out of the rocky
hillsides starting a thousand years ago or more. The people
of the villages also work the Bay of Liguria from small boats,
harvesting fish from the Mediterranean Sea.
Cinque Terre is now a UNESCO world Heritage site and
protected fro development.

Cinque Terre, Walking, Hiking on the Mediterranean Coast
Cinque Terre is a Great Place for Walking
You walk through the grape orchards and olive groves that connect the five villages high
above the Mediterranean Sea. From the trails you look down on the five tiny villages
tucked into the rocks between the water and the steep hills. The hikes between villages
are between two and four miles.
You can start your hike just outside your B&B located in a fishing village that has resisted
progress for a thousand years. As you climb higher into the steep terraced hillside, you
see the Mediterranean spread below the villages. As you walk the necklace of trails
that connect the olive groves and vineyards of each village, you climb higher and are
rewarded with magnificent views.
On Cinque Terre's rugged coast there is not much to do but slow down and walk. It is
ideal for those that love to hike. You can live the simple life of dining on Pesto and olive
tapinades, sipping the local white wine after a hike, and watching the sunset at the end
of your day.
Cinque Terre Nature Park, Shuttle Bus Between Villages
The villages are surrounded by a nature park which preserves the environment and the air quality by operating
a shuttle between the villages for hikers. The shuttle price comes with the park's entrance ticket and the buses
are a good option at the end of a strenuous day of walking the trails above the villages.
Riomaggiore is the first Cinque Terre Village you encounter driving north from La Spezia or coming by slow
regional train form the south. There is just one pedestrian only street leading down to the sea. Some B&Bs
have parking. There are no streets for autos beyond a gate.
Cinque Terre's Gothic architecture of stone structures cobbled together in villages joined by a network of
walking paths can answer the dream for travelers who long to sense what life might have been like in Medieval
times.
The Cinque Terre's five villages still practice the simple farm life and they harvest of the sea in small boats
like they have done for a thousand years.
Brightly-painted houses of the medieval village lean into one another in a disarray of pastel cobbles with
networks of small streets and sheltered paths. From Riomaggiore, to the right as you face the ocean, a trail
leads out along the shore to the next village, Manarola. The Via del'Amore as the trail is called has a dozen little
trails leading to outcrops and views of the sea.


Manarola is only a half hour walk from Riomaggiore. From there take the trail to Corniglia. Climb the set of 350
or so steps up to the village of Corniglia.
From Corniglia it is an hour and half hike to Vernazza ( The shuttle boats do not stop at Corniglia)
Vernazza, the fourth village heading northwest. Reach Vernazza sheltered cove and several restaurants near the
sea after a two hour hike.
The Harbor at
Riomaggiore
. Vernazza's harbor once sheltered a Roman installation.
A two to three hour hike reaches the next village Monterosso al Mare.
You can go by the ferry that shuttles between the villages if you choose
not to hike
The hike from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare can be a strenuous one
that includes several ascents and descents. Monterosso has a beach
and a boat dock where the water taxis connect to the other villages
(except Corniglia).
Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare can provide lodging and dining in
one of the best preserved natural areas of the Mediterranean,
Cinque Terre's cliffs make building of major roadways near impossible. The villages exist on fishing
and intensive viticulture which has created the unique landscape.
Cinque Terre has been made a nature preserve, to keep it undeveloped.
Cinque Terre is a great place for hiking.
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.
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 and Cinque Terre have climates 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 270 miles north of Rome on the Mediterranian Coast south of Genoa.
Cinque Terre Walking and Hiking on the Mediterranean Coast offers
walks through the grape orchards and olive groves that connect the five
towns.
You walk high above the Mediterranean Sea while you look down on the
five tiny villages.
Dive boats leave the
harbor at Riomaggiore
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Cinque Terre Italy, Walking, Hiking
When To Go To Cinque Terre Italy: Mid March to Mid November is a good time to visit The Cinque Terre. Mid summer can be crowded. Winter months are without snow but could be cool with January averaging from 40 lows to 55 highs. The wettest months are March and October the driest June July, August. Cinque Terre hiking is good any season. The trails are used by farmers who grow grapes and olives and they remain open year round. Cinque Terre is on the Mediterranean Sea north of Pisa and south of Genoa. May (60 highs to 45 lows) and the early part of June are ideal. The end of June, and all of July and August can be warm in the mid day (June 60-70) and crowded at times as much of Europe takes its summer vacation. (August 83 highs to 65 lows) Summer months are warm and dry. Weather is ideal in May and June and September October, great months to visit and not too crowded. November 45 lows -60 Highs f Showers could come in any month but will be infrequent in the summer, more frequent Sept, Oct, March. Cinque Terre is extremely hilly including the town streets and likely the stairway to your lodging; Pack lightly. Mid March to Mid November will find most seasonal attractions open.
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