Where is cinque terre located

Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces to cultivate grapes and olives on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the Mediterranean Sea. The breathtaking views of harbours far below the wild but hospitable coastline along with the medieval fortresses and plentiful vines and vibrant colours make this a memorable holiday. The Cinque Terre, recognized in by the Unesco Mankind's World Heritage , are today a National Park and Protected Marine Area with the aim of protecting this great cultural heritage and natural environment.

Here you can find a detailed description of each town. Click on the images and discover Cinque Terre. The Cinque Terre is located just south of Genoa in north-west Italy. Between 10am and 4pm the villages are rammed with day-trippers — the train platform in Monterosso at 4pm took me right back to commuting on the London Tube in rush hour.

The villages have a different atmosphere at different times of day, so staying for a few days would give you time to decide on your favourite and go back for sunset or dinner.

But to avoid the worst of the crowds, steer clear of July and August. Shoulder season — May and September — is a good time for visiting the Cinque Terre, with warm days and less people than in peak season.

Or if you want to risk the off-season you can get a bargain and have the paths to yourself, but it can be wet, especially around November. Monterosso is the furthest north and the largest of the villages. At the other end of the Cinque Terre is Riomaggiore, another of the larger villages with a gorgeous setting and brightly coloured houses set around the harbour. Vernazza and Manarola are both smaller and are arguably the most beautiful of the Cinque Terre villages.

Manarola is surrounded by vineyards and Vernazza has a tiny beach. Both have mostly self-catering accommodation. As does Corniglia, the central village of the five. This makes it the quietest — especially in the evenings — and its position high up on the rocks means you get great views I stayed here and loved it.

The one flat stretch of coast path from Corniglia to Riomaggiore is closed for the foreseeable future after it was damaged in landslips back in The rest of the paths involve lots of ups and downs with some rocky ground with a few big drops and steps to clamber up. Plus you often end up waiting for people to pass on narrow stretches which slows things down. So start early or late if you can to miss the peak of walkers. The Sentiero Azzurro or Blue Trail starts from Monterosso and takes around two hours to reach Vernazza and another two to carry on to Corniglia.

From Corniglia to Manarola you have to take the high route via Volastra — it takes around three hours and involves some serious climbs but the views at the top through the vineyards are well worth it.

As well as the main walks there are quieter hill paths, like the Sentiero Rosso or Red Trail from Portvenere to Levanto. There are also shorter sanctuary walks run steeply uphill from the villages. You can get them in villages and from huts at the start of each section of the path. If you are driving around, you can park in La Spezia or Levanto then catch the train into the Cinque Terre.

The trains are the easiest way to get to and around the Cinque Terre, running between La Spezia and Levanto and stopping at each village. Monterosso al Mare. Since Cinque Terre is an area prone to landslides, it's always better to check if the hiking paths are open or closed, before leaving. You must purchase a pass if you hike the trail number 2 blue , while no pass is required for the other trails.

It is also possible to purchase a hiking and train pass in one if you wish to catch a train to the next town. Trains are frequent but it is advisable to check local time tables especially on Sunday and Public holidays as you could be waiting up to an hour for the correct train.

This is a paved path that is easy to walk for any age. Only the side starting from Manarola is wheelchair accessible. The Riomaggiore side starts with 2 flights of stairs. Along the way, passers-by have the opportunity to write their names on the walls of a gallery. Visitors should not scratch their names on trees or cactuses as this is damaging to the plants. Mid-way down the path, you will come across 'The Lover's Lock' which is a place to seal your eternal love.

At this point there is a 'love seat' in the shape of a male and female locked in a kiss, where many couples pose. The next hike from Manarola to Corniglia is also easy. It takes approximately 30 minutes. The path is not paved. To reach Corniglia town center there is an up hill hike and a large zig zag shaped staircase with steps which can be quite a mission in the midday sun. 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.