Carved into the cliffs of the Maritime Alps and the Apennines as if created for a Disney movie, sit the Italian Riviera villages of Cinque Terre (in fact, it was the inspiration for the Disney animation film”Luca”). Consisting of five ancient fishing villages – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore – Cinque Terre is simply breathtaking.

Located in one of the most remote areas of Italy just south of Genoa, the five villages were originally connected only by trails. Today, the villages are accessible by train, ferry or car (although parking can be a major problem). Yet, in spite of its remoteness, Cinque Terre is one of the most visited destinations along the Italian Riviera.

Walking the streets of the villages lined with pastel colored buildings and homes cascading down the cliffs toward the Mediterranean Sea, invoke thoughts of a beautiful landscape painting coming to life. Olives, grapes and lemons cultivated for centuries on the terraced cliff sides high above the villages are used to produce some of the best wine, olive oil and pesto in Italy.

Explore The Five Villages Of Cinque Terre

Manarola

The colorful cottages cascading down the cliffs to the Mediterranean Sea below give Manarola an iconic storybook village look. The most picturesque of the five towns, Manarola captures the essence of what an Italian Riveria fishing village should look like. Its narrow, pedisterian-only streets are lined with rowboats, boutique shops and eateries tucked beneath balconied apartments.

Vernazza

With its small natural harbor surrounded by colorful houses, the medieval Doria Castle and Santa Margherita di Antiochia Church bell tower, Vernazza has been described as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Dating to 1080, it remains the most authentic fishing village on the Italian Riviera.  The steep, terraced olive groves high above the village produce some of the best olive oils in Italy. Completely closed off to cars, Vernazza retains the past. The narrow paths and stairways leading up to the groves provide postcard moments that will remain with you for a lifetime.

Monterosso al Mare

The largest of the five villages, Monterosso al Mare is the only one with an expansive beach. Unlike the other villages, Monterosso is relatively flat making it ideal for those with mobility issues. Famous for its lemon trees, the village hosts the annual Festa del Limone (Lemon Festival) on the third Saturday of each May. The town is divided by a pedestrian tunnel that connects the old town with the new.

Riomaggiore

Rimangio is the southernmost Cinque Terre village. Distinguished by the colorful multi-story houses seemingly stacked on top of each other, the narrow streets wind steeply up to the borgo dei contadini (agricultural village). Here you will find the 13th century Castle of Riomaggiore as well as the 14th century Church of San Giovanni Battista (Church of St. John the Baptist).

Corniglia

The smallest of the five villages, Corniglia is the most difficult to access. Perched 100m on a small cape above the Mediterranean, it can only be reached by climbing the Lardarina, a steep 382 stairway or by taking a shuttle bus.

Hike The Sentiero Azzurro

Connecting all five villages, the 12km Sentiero Azzuro (Blue Path) is the most popular and easiest hiking path in Cinque Terre. The path starts in Riomaggiore continuing through Manarola, Corniglia and Vernazza ending at Monterosso al Mare. It takes over five hours to walk the entire trail and reaches an altitude of 200m at its highest point. In order to access the path, you will need to purchase a Cinque Terre Trekking Card.

Experience La Dolce Vita

Experience La Dolce Vita (The Good Life) as you wander throughout the villages of Cinque Terre. Be casual and relax with the true feel of the Italian Riviera! Enjoy the laid back atmosphere while sipping on a Limoncello, Aperol Spritz or cold Peroni. Stop at any of the quaint locally owned cafes for fresh seafood, taggiasca olives, anchovies (some of the best in Italy come from Monterosso al Mare), or a sandwich made with focaccia genovese and Liguria’s famous taggiasca olive oil. Cool off with a fresh gelato.

Getting To Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre can be reached by train from anywhere in Italy. From Florence, we booked tickets on ItaliaRail‘s high speed train. The trip took just 2hrs 35min which included a transfer in Pisa.

Once we arrived, we purchased a Cinque Terra Treno MS Card issued in conjunction with Trenitalia. This daily pass gave us unlimited travel between each village by train or bus. Access to the park area, Wi-Fi hotpot connections, free use of the toilets in Riomaggiore, Vernazza and Monterosso are included as well.