In our travels, and in this blog we have used the adjective
“touristy” as a pejorative – sometimes with good reason. Some
places are just tacky, crass attempts to lure the biggest bucks from
the most people possible. But some places are have lots of tourists
just because it is beautiful, or historic, or architecturally
important.
Cinque Terre is full of tourists, and I doubt whether any were disappointed they came. Cinque Terre literally means “five earths” or “five lands”, but it really is a rugged portion of the coast on the Italian Riviera, in the Ligurian region, where trails connect five villages. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The inhabitants of Cinque Terre have got it right – it is incredibly beautiful, but seems not to know it. You still see washing hanging from the balconies right next to flowerboxes overflowing with geraniums. Fig trees, lemon trees, hydrangeas, oleander grow between the brightly coloured houses, and you definitely feel like you are in an ancient village, with restaurants built into grottoes along the main street. Fishing boats are pulled up alongside cafe, and every morning they are dragged down to the sea to pull in the day's catch.
Over the centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. There is no visible corporate development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside.
Unfortunately, the villages of the Cinque Terre were severely affected by torrential rains which caused floods and mudslides on October 25, 2011. Nine people have been confirmed killed by the floods, and damage to the villages, particularly Vernazza, Corniglia, and Monterosso al Mare, was extensive. The footpath to Corniglia was still closed while we were here.
It is somewhat ironic that Lorraine had her fall on the mountains of Corsica the day before we came here, where there are 153 steps up to our BandB, and even more to the roadway. It was our intent to hike the whole trail, but we cut things back, still managing a hike to the beautiful village of Manarola. Lorraine has been a good sport, hobbling up and down many times a day, and managing the trails like a trooper.
Cinque Terre is quaint, beautiful, and worth adding as a destination in your bucket list!
Cinque Terre is full of tourists, and I doubt whether any were disappointed they came. Cinque Terre literally means “five earths” or “five lands”, but it really is a rugged portion of the coast on the Italian Riviera, in the Ligurian region, where trails connect five villages. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The inhabitants of Cinque Terre have got it right – it is incredibly beautiful, but seems not to know it. You still see washing hanging from the balconies right next to flowerboxes overflowing with geraniums. Fig trees, lemon trees, hydrangeas, oleander grow between the brightly coloured houses, and you definitely feel like you are in an ancient village, with restaurants built into grottoes along the main street. Fishing boats are pulled up alongside cafe, and every morning they are dragged down to the sea to pull in the day's catch.
Over the centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. There is no visible corporate development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside.
Unfortunately, the villages of the Cinque Terre were severely affected by torrential rains which caused floods and mudslides on October 25, 2011. Nine people have been confirmed killed by the floods, and damage to the villages, particularly Vernazza, Corniglia, and Monterosso al Mare, was extensive. The footpath to Corniglia was still closed while we were here.
It is somewhat ironic that Lorraine had her fall on the mountains of Corsica the day before we came here, where there are 153 steps up to our BandB, and even more to the roadway. It was our intent to hike the whole trail, but we cut things back, still managing a hike to the beautiful village of Manarola. Lorraine has been a good sport, hobbling up and down many times a day, and managing the trails like a trooper.
The Villages of Cinque Terre
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