Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre –What a lovely piece of the Italian Riviera! Ben and I visited these Five (Cinque) distinct towns known for their colorful pastel houses and the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean. Each of these centuries-old fishing villages spans the cliffside as individual gems and are linked together by the famous Blue Trail with the “Via dell’Amore” (Lovers’ Lane), as well as by trains that make it easy to hop from one town to the next.

Ben and I stayed in the first of the five towns — Riomaggiore. It was extremely picturesque and still gathered a crowd but felt easy to find solace and beauty. It was a lovely place with plenty of restaurants and accommodations, as well as a nearby, easily accessible beach cove. This cove became one of our favorites — it had astoundingly clear water, lots of fish to spot, and was generally not too crowded.

We managed to visit all five towns (the most trains we’ve caught in a single day so far — six in total!). We headed out early in the morning while it was still a bit chilly, and after our cappuccino and chocolate croissant, we caught the train to Manarola.

Manarola:
We spent the least amount of time in this town, but it had some promising features. There were cute restaurants and shops, as well as a cliff walk that offered a great view of the town as a whole — we were there a bit too early but I could imagine it with the sun shining on it and it would be something to behold. The path led to a deep and semi-private swim spot. If I ever find myself back here, I’d love to sit at the bar along this cliff walk and watch the sunset.

Corniglia:
The train station for this town sits at the base of a small cliff, while the town itself perches on top. We climbed the 300+ stairs to reach it and wandered through the winding streets. It seemed like the smallest and most remote of the towns — probably because of its tougher access point.

We ate at a little café called Matteo’s, which offered a great breakfast deal: fresh orange juice, cappuccino, and eggs with bacon and toast for €9. Delish! I had read that there were some great swim spots near this town, but from the center of town we weren’t sure how to reach anywhere near the sea. Luckily, on our way out Ben spotted a little staircase at the far end. We went for it — and success! A steep staircase led down to the water, where we turned toward the cliff edge and scrambled over some rocks to our perfect, private cove.

We swam and read, soaking up the sun and listening to the ebb and flow of the water on the rocks. Later on a few small groups wandered into our little paradise, and we decided it was time to move on. Back up the steep stairs and then down we went. I was completely enamored by that perfect cove — she was a beauty.

Vernazza:
By this point in the day, the crowds had started to pick up. We wandered around the town and made our way out to the rock jetty, following the walkway into the marina where the boats were moored. Lots of people were sitting and eating along the edge, looking back toward the view of town. On the far side of the marina, there was a rocky ledge that people were using as a beach — a bit crowded but overall a good time.

We shared a sandwich by the jetty, then went for gelato. Ben tried his first affogato here (he’s really getting into the whole caffeine thing!), and then we moved on to the final town.

Monterosso al Mare:
This town was quite a contrast from the others. It wasn’t built up on a cliff, and instead had a long stretch of beach — some pebble, some actual sand. It felt a bit more commercial, but the water was beautiful and easily accessible. We swam, wandered through the streets, and then headed back. After visiting all five, Ben and I both agreed — we were still quite happy with our home base in Riomaggiore.

God has created quite the little paradise in Cinque Terre. We were so grateful to have the opportunity to explore the towns and swim in it’s magical waters. The pictures don’t do it justice.