Le cinque terre: five enchanted villages by the sea
Cinque Terre is an enchanting coastal region of Liguria, which attracts millions of visitors every year for its breathtaking landscapes. Let's discover together the peculiarities of each of the villages that are part of this area and how to reach them.
Cinque Terre Villages
To fully capture the essence of the Cinque Terre, it's essential to visit all five villages.
Starting from the Gulf of Tigullio or from Genoa, you can easily reach Monterosso al Mare, the largest and liveliest village in the Cinque Terre. Here you can admire the sandy beach of Fegina, and you can walk among the carrugi, or the typical narrow paved streets which, together with the pastel-coloured houses, give a unique charm to this village. Among the attractions, the Capuchin Convent and the Church of San Giovanni Battista stand out.
Continuing your journey east, you can immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of Vernazza, known for its picturesque harbour, the evocative Gothic church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia which overlooks the sea and the majestic Doria Castle, which dominates the village from above. The third stop not to be missed is Corniglia, which stands on a promontory with a panoramic view of the coast. To reach its beach, you have to face a staircase of 382 steps, known as "Lardarina".
Afterwards, you can go to Manarola, which enchants visitors with its terraced vineyards and suggestive trekking paths, including the Sentiero Azzurro and the Via dell'Amore.
Finally, as you approach the city of La Spezia, you will come across Riomaggiore, renowned for its pastel-coloured houses that roll up the hill and the evocative staircases that lead to the historic center.
How to reach the Cinque Terre by train
To avoid the stress of the narrow, winding and often trafficated streets of the Cinque Terre, as well as the difficulty of finding parking, the best solution is to take the Cinque Terre Express.
This regional train connects La Spezia to Levanto with stops in all five villages of the Cinque Terre.
During the tourist season, the service departs every 15-20 minutes, offering the flexibility to explore Cinque Terre at any time of the day.