Cinque Terre, Italy

[gnwatts]

I thought I would share a trip that my family and I took in November of 2007 to the Cinque Terre region of Italy. "The five Lands" are comprised of 5 hilltowns on the Ligurian Sea north of La Spezia (historical note: La Spezia was the port where the U-Boat in the movie Das Boot was headed, big naval base). A extensive trail system exists in the national park that encompasses the 5 towns. With restricted vehicle access, the best way to arrive there is to take the train. We took the train from Florence to La Spezia, then the smaller, slower train to Vernazza, which is where we stayed for 4 days. The towns are, in order heading north from La Spezia, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. A well established, mostly paved (with rough stone) trail system exists connecting the 5 towns. Before the train was built this was the only way to travel between towns. Total distance from Monterosso to Riomaggiore is 11 miles. Vernazza, at least in November, was quiet and uncrowded. The weather was in the 70's. Vernazza has not really changed for 400 years. It is the birth place of pesto.

The harbor:





View from our roof deck, Monterosso in the distance:







A typical street:

[gnwatts]

Our first hike was our shortest. The trail climbs and dips down into ravines, and then finally over a bridge to Monterosso, the least interesting IMO of all of the towns (But it is a lot more interesting after a bottle or 2 of the local cheap white). It has a "New" area to the north. And the beach was ok. Then we took the train back to Vernazza.

View of Vernazza from the trail:

[gnwatts]

This was the longest hike. Words cannot really describe the variety of this hike. You encounter amazing towns clinging to the cliffs, wide varieties of plants, nude beaches, bruschetta and more white wine.

Above Vernazza:










The trail goes right through the building (Bar was closed).



Corniglia, the only town without a harbor









On to Manarola

[gnwatts]

The Rock Lobster shrine. I don't remember where this one was.



Manarola:





Next 2- Street drains:





The other side of Manarola:






The trail then enters a covered arcade, filled with graffiti for hundreds of feet. It was some sort of "lovers lane" place, according to the guide. The graffiti was pretty cool. I believe it was built to protect people from rock slides. The train runs in a tunnel below the arcade:









Riomaggiore:






An amazing trip. This was in the middle of our vacation. We stayed 4 days in a small castle near Cortona, built originally for Charlemagne. And the rest of the time split between Florence and Rome, where there was a riot, burning police cars etc. I think about a futbol game. Luckily that was on our last day.

[dioscuriII]

I love the colorful image. Number 2 in the group. The buildings.

Kevin

[Brian in SLC]

Bella bella. Fantastico!

Spent some time last fall just up the coast at Finale Ligure. Great area.

Cin cin,

-Brian in SLC

[gnwatts]

Grazie!

[stefan]

oh cool, what a surprise! thank you for bringing something new to the hiking forum!
wonderful photos and marvelous places

[gnwatts]

Thanks stefan.

[Cirrus2000]

Very nice! This is one of the places we considered going this summer, but it didn't make the cut... Might just have to add it to a future trip!! Thanks!

[Bo_Beck]

Stunning photography and great Trip Report! I have to admit that when I saw the title that it was going to be the same place I visited some years ago? Nonetheless now you've got me wanting to re-visit Italy! Here are some pice of "Cinque Torri" which I thought might be the same as Cinque Terre.....
Cinque Torri Tower Climbing on Cinque Torri Marmolada Cinque Torri Tower Tofana di Rozes

[gnwatts]

Thanks for the comments.
Cirrus2000:
Cinque Terre didn't make the cut?!! You must be going to some amazing places. What's your itinerary? If you go to Rome, check out a little church behind the Colliseum, I think it is called San Clemente. It is, from the outside, your run of the mill 16th century church. But underneath, are many surprises. At the lowest level (maybe 30' down?), you can actually walk down a Roman alley. Above that are some early christian rooms with spectacular mosaics, all below the church. It kind of brought all of Rome together for me.

[Cirrus2000]

Didn't make it simply because we're starting in London and ending in Paris. We've decided to fly to Toulouse and do a road trip up the western half of France - Carcassonne, Dordogne, Loire, Brittany, Normandy and loop around back to Paris. At one point we considered Provence and into Italy, but I really wanted to get to Normandy to visit the D-Day beaches, so this is what we went with. Bul I'll make note of the church behind the Coliseum - I think that Italy will be on the next trip to Europe (when that will be, not sure, but it will be...)

[accadacca]

Excellent! I don't know how i missed this report. Thanks!