“Cinque Terre National park” is a protected area located in northern Italy, was included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
Cinque terre (five towns in English) is a rugged coastline on the Italian Riviera and consists of the five beautiful hillside towns Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
The five towns are connected by trails. There is also a train- and boat connection between the towns.
Corniglia seen from the trail " Corniglia-Manarola" at sunset
Corniglia is located in the middle of the five towns. It is the only village which is not built directly on the sea but on a cliff 100 metres above sea level.
Here another picture at sunset
Riomaggiore is considered to be one of the most peaceful and quiet villages of the Cinque Terre, is basically a cascade of multi-coloured houses in the typical Ligurian style
Manarola has a tiny harbor with a boat ramp, picturesque multicoloured houses facing the sea and a tiny piazza with seafood restaurants
Vernazza has a natural pier with an amphitheatre shape making it maybe the most photographed village of the Cinque Terre.
Monterosso is the biggest of the five towns and has the most amenities.
Here a beautiful sunset from there
The Cinque Terre is a cultural landscape of great scenic and cultural value. The disposition of the small villages and the shaping of the surrounding landscape, overcoming the disadvantages of a steep, uneven terrain, encapsulate the continuous history of human settlement in this region over the past millennium.
My advice is to visit this stunning area at the end of autumn or better yet in winter. There will be less tourists and you are able to see the real life here.
The train is the fastest way to get around with lots of trains connecting the five villages at regular intervals throughout the day.
I don't recommend a car because of narrow roads and very few parking spaces!
