The most well-known protected corner of the Liguria Region is the Cinque Terre National Park. Crystalline sea and rocks overlooking the water; villages clinging to rocky projections, with landing places conquered with difficulty and terraces that stubbornly line the contour of the mountains close to coast, tell us of an ancient relationship between people and nature. This is the Cinque Terre, a microcosm that, in a bit less than 20 km of coastline and immediate inland parts, perhaps encloses the quintessence of the Riviera di Levante (Eastern Italian Riviera). A place where the relationship between man and the environment is preserved in a miraculous balance, and which UNESCO deservedly declared to be a “World Heritage Site“ in 1998. The typical hilly scenery is an extraordinary example of architecture-landscape: the contour of the mountains is formed entirely by terraces, which are mostly used to grow vines (the grapes of which are used to make the famous Sciacchetrà) and olive trees. From East to West, the villages of the Cinque Terre follow one another: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare are the five small coastline villages that give the Cinque Terre (Five Lands) its name. The villages are joined by a path that runs along the sea, still used to these days by the local residents

The villages

Riomaggiore is the easternmost town of the Cinque Terre. It is enclosed in a beautiful small valley that leads to a narrow beach. Moving westward, one finds Manarola, scenically gathered on the rocks dominating the sea. A breathtaking pedestrian road engraved in the living rock, called “Via dell'Amore”, joins Manarola to Riomaggiore. Further ahead there is Corniglia, located on a rocky plateau that overhangs the sea. The village of Vernazza is located in one of the most enchanting spots: partly set in a valley, and partly perched on a crag overhanging the water. Lastly, Monterosso al Mare, a picturesque fishermen’s village.

Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore

Positioned in a beautiful valley at the sides of the stream that gives it its name and which today runs underground, this village consists of two rows of tall and narrow houses that can be accessed from different storeys, which give onto a small beach.

Manarola

Manarola

Perched on a sheer cliff overlooking the sea, it offers a beautiful view with high impact with its colourful row houses.

Corniglia

Corniglia

This is really a crest village, high up on a hill. The beach, about a hundred meters below, is breathtaking and well protected. The village has always been a farming centre, its most appreciated crop being the vine, the grapes of which are used to make, in an extremely limited quantity, the white wine of the Cinque Terre and the Sciacchetrà.

Vernazza

Vernazza

This village is arranged around an inlet that resembles a small fjord and features a small harbour, already used in ancient times for trading activities. This characteristic has made it the richest village in the area, while the combination of environmental features and architectural value also makes it the most beautiful village.

Monterosso

Monterosso al Mare

Here one can still breathe the atmosphere evoked by a few lyrics written by the Nobel prize winner Eugenio Montale (1896-1981), who spent his holidays here with his family when he was young. The tourist area of Fegina, with its sandy beach, can be found next to the ancient village, with the churches of San Giovanni Battista and San Francesco.