N ot far away from the region of Versilia, which borders the Ligurian Riviera in the north, one can find the famous Cinque Terre, a sought after and appreciated destination from tourists from all over the world. It was used as a setting in famous films such as “The Wolf of Wall Street” by Martin Scorsese and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the jagged coastline of the Ligurian Riviera of Levante, the five villages known as “Le Cinque Terre” tower vertically over the sea: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare, where the famous poet Eugenio Montale liked to spend the summer months. Those who visit these places will be fascinated by the unique panorama created by the terraced green hills which look straight down on to the sea, which winds into the cliffs, giving birth to characteristic and ancient villages, kissed by colourful and impressive sunsets in the evening.
At the end of the 90s, the National Park of the Cinque Terre and the Marine Protection Area was established, to protect the environment and its landscapes, as well as increasing the value of the biological and anthropological resources of the territory. An area that can count on innumerable paths which can be followed by foot or by bike while enjoying the panorama. One of those is the pathway of Crinale, the Azzurro pathway and the famous Via dell’Amore. Due to the impervious nature of the location of the Cinque Terre and thus the shortage of parking spaces, the descent to the villages is only possible by foot. We suggest our guests to go to the Cinque Terre by train, starting from the close station of Pietrasanta. Additionally, the train, which runs rather frequently, follows the cliffs right on top of the sea, allowing its passengers to enjoy a wonderful view.
In the tourist season there are also bus and boat connections which connect Monterosso, Manarola, Vernazza and Riomaggio with Porto Venere. This is connected with La Spezia, Lerici and with the other towns along the Eastern Ligurian riviera. Many tourists visit these wonderful villages: according to data, due to the tourists’ arrivals, the population grows tenfold especially in the summer months. Especially Monterosso is equipped to receive tourists interested in bathing, but it is possible to find typically small and unequipped beaches all along the coast. These can be found at the interior of natural creeks, such as the beach of Guvano.
The wine and food tourism is very well developed, thank stop the typical delicacies of the region: from the typical dishes of the Ligurian cuisine, such as pesto alla genovese, to the fish based dishes, to the characteristic desserts such as the lemon tart. Wines are also very sought after, such as the bianco 5 Terre and the typical Sciachetrà, a straw wine obtained through the fermentation of grapes left out to dry on pylons which is only produced in this region. Tourists that want to do sports activities will not be disappointed: mountain bike trips, trekking, surfing and spearfishing are only some of the activities that can be done in this area. Events and cultural celebrations are not to forget, such as the Aria Festival, the famous international street artists event which happens every year. To sum things up: beautiful sea, nature, breathtaking views and activities for everybody make the Cinque Terre a destination not to miss.