Cinque terre where is it

Gubbio, with its ancient origins and profound, Medieval Ischia, the island of the Sun-god extolled by Homer, boasts an ancient history: it was the first Greek settlement in the west, as well as the Cinque Terre is the name of a district that encompasses five glorious towns, where small houses are surrounded by lush nature.

Visitors to this district will be fascinated by the beauty of these five small villages, namely: Manarola , Riomaggiore , Corniglia , Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. The inhabitants of Cinque Terre benefite not only from its pristine waters, but from its natural environment, where wild nature is interspersed with vineyards, olive groves and citrus orchards, creating a precious bond between man, his traditions and this breathtaking stretch of coast.

Monterosso is in an ancient village located atop a hill, offering amazing panorams to all who venture here. The modern town stands at the foot of the Fenigia Hill, and boasts ruggedly beautiful beaches and natural areas.

Finally, the Statue of Neptune, called the Giant, majestically guards the coastline from on high. The trail from Corniglia to Vernazza is longer and the terrain is uneven. The hike takes approximately 2 hours. The trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is the steepest you need a reasonably good level of fitness - there is over m of climbing over very uneven rocks, about steps , winding through olive orchards and vineyards and offering dramatic ocean views.

The paths are narrow, with a very real danger of falling m if you lose your footing. If you attempt this hike, take some water, and be prepared to build up a very decent sweat. The walk on the No. For those that would rather not walk or not walk the entire trail , a boat ferry service runs seasonally to all five villages, plus Lerici. The price is reasonable, and gives a nice view of the villages from the water.

The regional train that connects all the villages is also a quick way to hop among towns. If you are a more experienced hiker, take advantage of other trails that go higher up the mountain. These trails are well maintained, off the beaten path, and usually have fewer tourists. You can obtain detailed maps from any of the park offices. In June, July, and August, start the walk as early as possible to avoid the unforgiving midday sun.

Sneakers or suitable walking shoes are essential. Monterosso - Vernazza : 90 minutes. Vernazza - Corniglia : 90 minutes. Corniglia - Manarola : 45 minutes, closed Dec Manarola - also has its own beautiful vineyard walk. Manarola - Riomaggiore : 20 minutes, closed Dec For the latest on whether the hiking trials are open or not, see the Parco Nazionale della Cinque Terre website.

Other paths may be closed due to adverse weather conditions. It is possible to swim in the sea at each of the villages. There are two large sandy beaches at Monterosso, a small sandy beach at the harbor of Vernazza, and pebble beaches near Riomaggiore and Corniglia. Off the beaten path there are pebble beaches in Framura and Bonasola just 20 minutes away on the train. You can swim off rocks at the small harbors at Manarola which has a very nice and deep swimming hole and Riomaggiore.

Corniglia's small harbor is reached by a long staircase leading down to the sea. It is probably the quietest swimming spot of all the five lands because of this. When grapevines and olive trees cover the hillsides, wine and oil are a must on our tables. They prove excellent companions for the salted anchovies of Monterosso served in olive oil as well as the many specialty fish dishes, authentic gastronomic delights.

The cuisine of the Cinque Terre almost perfectly conserves the characteristics of yesteryear; the respect for the flavors and fragrances of the primary ingredients. Trofie is a kind of pasta made from chestnut or wheat flour and is one of the forefathers of modern and more sophisticated pasta.

Its condiment is still pesto sauce; an original Ligurian sauce made from basil leaves, extra virgin olive oil, grated cheese, pine nuts, and marjoram. Tagliatelle , a broad handmade pasta, is used with sauces that contain mushrooms, cabbage and potatoes, beans, chickpeas or sometimes with pesto.

The pie crust is very thin, because flour was a very precious commodity. Rice pie , or 'torta di riso' is a specialty of every grandma in the region. In Monterosso this rice pie was made even more delectable by adding a bit of dried mushrooms to the filling. In Manarola, the tradition is to make this dish for the feast of the patron saint Saint Lawrence on August Egg 'frittate', or flat omelettes , are popular today as the 'frittata' has been rediscovered as a tasty antipasto.

Another important dish on the tables of the Cinque Terre population was the 'cotoletta di acciuga', anchovies stuffed with a breadcrumb based filling and then fried. The 'fritelle di bianchetti', fritters made from tiny newborn anchovies or sardines were also highly appreciated. Following the seamen's gastronomic traditions, other dishes included stewed cuttlefish , stuffed calamari and spiced octopus. Mussels , another protected designation of origin product from the Gulf of La Spezia are prepared in a variety of ways: stuffed, stewed, baked.

Pizzeria Fratelli Basso on via Roma is one of only two places in town where you can eat farinata—like a focaccia but made with chickpea flour. The wood-fired pizzeria down the road will make it if they don't have any left. A colorful addition to the Cinque Terre products is 'limoncino'; a dessert wine made from steeping lemon peels in pure alcohol and then adding sugar and water to make a fragrant and fresh liquor.

The lemons, another famous product of the Cinque Terre are prominently on display in the many 'limoneti' lemon groves and at the annual Lemon Festival held each year in Monterosso during the season of Pentecost.

The Sentieri dell'Uva Grape Routes are still as they once were with fig trees planted in strategic positions to give shade during breaks from work, agaves planted to mark boundaries, to line the footpaths along steep, stony steps and to indicate the rail terminals of the monorails which are the only vertical structures emerging from this seemingly completely, horizontal landscape. Many dry stone walls support this terraced landscape. The large wicker baskets of grapes corbe are arranged along the "pose" little walls, as wide as tables, built solely for this purpose.

The Cinque Terre grape tracks reach down to the sea. In the past, people used to anchor small fishing boats called "gozzi" immediately below the terraced vineyards. Baskets laden with grapes were then lowered from above into these small boats which then sailed round to the otherwise inaccessible village. Nowadays this method is nothing but a distant memory but by visiting the Cinque Terre you are still able to sample some of the most prized wines of the world that have been created by centuries of backbreaking experience.

There are a few campgrounds where you can rent a tent with two beds and linens for very low prices. Note that none are inside the national park area but quite a few can be found just to the north of the park in the touristy but pleasant town of Levanto. It's not advised to try wild camping, since it's illegal, and it can be dangerous due to the presence of wild boars roaming free in the park.

Other campsites can be found south of La Spezia and further north around Deiva Marina. Levanto is a better option though because it is serviced by the park-run train service connecting all five villages as stated earlier. The area is home to some 4, inhabitants, but attracts 2. The principle attraction is the beautiful but rugged landscape. While Cinque Terre is a popular day trip from Florence , the charming towns and hiking trails that unite them deserve a longer and slower visit, so we recommend staying for three nights in order to fully absorb what this territory has to offer.

The busiest months are May through August. The high season gets very crowded, so try and book a room at least three months in advance. If there are heavy rains, hiking trails may be closed for safety reasons. Expect fairs for lemons in May and anchovies mid-September , both of which take place in Monterosso al Mare. Each town celebrates a different patron saint.

Local trains best serve the area, while individual car access is highly discouraged. Group travelers tend to arrive by organized bus or boat tours. Serving 20 airlines including charter and low-cost airlines, most flights in to Pisa arrive from other European destinations. This train does not offer reserved seating. There are small and expensive parking lots at the top of each village. Some hotels have parking available, so be sure to ask before arriving at your accommodation.

This is a hop-on, hop-off formula with panoramic views, air conditioning, and an audio-guide aimed at individual travelers. Access to the main hiking trail that runs along the coast is only permitted with the Cinque Terre Card , but note that the first two sections, connecting Riomaggiore to Manarola and Manarola to Corniglia, are closed due to landslide a reopening date has not been set.

In-land trails are available but require a good level of fitness or hiking expertise. The good news is that the tour groups congregate on the central streets of each town from about 10 a. In the early morning and evenings, the pace slows down and you can experience the small Italian town feeling.