Often times in life there are special moments, people, or places that inspire us to change course in life or maybe to simply pause and asses our priorities. Cinque Terre are definitely one on those special places that have inspired me to appreciate nature and its magnificent beauty. I hope you will find inspiration, peace, or just the perfect day with family and friends.
Where are Cinque Terre:
Cinque Terre are found in the Northern Region called Liguria also famous
for the town of Portofino. Liguria has an exceptional climate all year
around, it is a large producer of flowers, but its economic resources come from
the sea. In fact Genova, Savona, and Imperia are still in today's economy
leading shipyards in Europe and the world. If you like good food you must try "pesto."
“Pesto” is the Ligurian sauce par excellence. Famous wines from the
Cinque Terre need no introduction.
Brief Description of the towns in Cinque Terre:
Monterosso al Mare, sometimes known simply as Monterosso, is the largest of the five, and the most heavily visited – especially by young people. It’s the only village with a nice long span of beach. (The other towns either require a hike or are very small and/or rocky).
Vernazza has perhaps the most charming central square, as it’s right on the water and there’s a lovely church tower on one side. The ruins of a castle are on one of the hills overlooking Vernazza. This is the town that tends to be most visited by people carrying Rick Steves’ guidebooks.
Corniglia is the only town not immediately on the water – it’s on top of its cliff, and so either direction you walk from requires a steep hike uphill. However, once you reach the top of this small village you will not be disappointed.
Manarola feels a bit more rustic and less polished than its northern neighbors; for this reason some find it a bit more charming and less populated with tourists. The part of the path between Manarola and Riomaggiore is the easiest. It’s paved, so you can even make the “trek” with a baby in a stroller, and it’s called the Via dell’Amore – the road of love.
Riomaggiore rises away from the water at a dramatic angle, so you can get away from the water and feel like you’re in another town entirely. This town seems to be most popular with German tourists.
Links of Interest:
Going back to the main title of this posting "Why you should visit Cinque Terre." I would like to hear your story of inspiration while visiting this stretch of land. Safe travel, keep discovering.
