JOIN USWe could keenly sense the adventure as we got off the train at Corniglia with our big backpacks in the hope of hiking along all the villages. We had taken a domestic train from La Spezia and originally travelled from Milano.
Cinque Terre is a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline.
Cinque Terre consists of five villages which cling to the Ligurian cliffs along Italy’s Western coast. These five villages are close to each other and you can hike from one village to another in a matter of hours!
‘The Five Lands’ comprises five villages — Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The coastline, five villages are all part of Cinque Terre
National Park and this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our booking was done in a hostel in Corniglia, hence we took a train straight to Corniglia from La Spezia. The train station is located at the foot of the hill and to reach the village, we had to climb around 400 stairs. You cannot escape these stairs as you will have to take the same to continue hiking.
Corniglia is located on top of a large hill and is surrounded by vineyards and terraces. It has a good number of hostels and many backpackers prefer to rest in this village. It is located 100 metres above sea level and doesn’t face the sea directly.
It has a beautiful church — Church of San Pietro — right in the centre of the village. Walking along its tangled roads will take you to a terrace facing the sea.
We started our trek from Corniglia to Vernazza and the trail happened to be a bit difficult but it had some postcard worthy pictures. It took us around two hours to get there.
Vernazza features a small port with elegant architecture, all directing towards the most charming main plaza. This is the most scenic village with pastel-coloured buildings and an overlooking tower by the sea. This village has a small number of stairs with terraces at every point and some of the best pizzas I’ve had!
The next village we hiked to was Monterosso al Mare. It is the only resort town with a sandy strip of beach and colourful umbrellas and records the maximum number of young visitors.
The next day we started our trek from Corniglia to Manarola and Riomaggiore. The trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola is called the ‘love trail’ with a scenic view of the sea and villages.
Manarola is positioned on top of the cliff with some inspiring landscapes. It is best known for wines like Sciacchetrà. The village has the main plaza and the port aligned with many fishing boats parked along.
Cinque Terre is one of the best places to visit if you love outdoor activities. It has some breathtaking views of landscapes, beaches and churches and is the closest piece of land to paradise. It is also among the most beautiful trails in Europe. You can even relish some delicious and authentic Italian meals on your way!
(The author can be contacted at samhitakishore92 @gmail.com)