Cinque Terre & the Italian Riviera: Five Villages, Infinite Views & the Art of Slow Italy

Cinque Terre — literally 'Five Lands' in Italian — is one of the most distinctive landscapes in Europe: five medieval fishing villages (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore) stacked in layers of pastel-coloured buildings on the near-vertical cliffs of the Ligurian Apennines above the Mediterranean. The villages are connected by the famous Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail) walking path — a coastal footpath carved into the cliffsides that offers views of extraordinary drama — and by regional rail (the most practical transport). The entire territory is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Park, and the car-free villages are among the most genuinely preserved examples of Mediterranean vernacular architecture in Italy.

The Villages in Detail

Vernazza — consistently rated the most beautiful of the five — is built around a small natural harbour of extraordinary picturesque quality: coloured houses rising in tiers above the water, a medieval watchtower (Doria Castle, 11th century) on the promontory, and a 14th-century Gothic church (Santa Margherita d'Antiochia) on the harbourfront piazza. The village is small enough (900 residents) that its character remains genuinely authentic despite the summer crowds.

Monterosso al Mare is the largest and most resort-like of the five — the only one with a proper sandy beach (divided between old and new villages), the most hotels, and the most restaurants. Anchovies (acciughe) are the local speciality: the finest anchovies in Italy are cured with sea salt here, and a jar of Monterosso anchovies in olive oil is the ideal edible souvenir.

Manarola — built on a narrow rocky promontory above a small boat harbour — is the oldest of the five villages and the one with the most intact traditional winemaking culture. The Sciacchetrà dessert wine, made from partially dried Bosco, Albarola, and Vermentino grapes grown on the steep terraced vineyards above the villages, is one of the rarest and most characterful wines in Italy. The Cantina Cinque Terre (cantina5terre.com) cooperative is the primary producer.

Where to Stay

For the Cinque Terre villages themselves, accommodation is primarily in small family-run locande and bed-and-breakfasts; advance booking of six to twelve months is required for summer visits. For luxury, the nearby resorts provide better facilities while maintaining easy access to the five villages.

Belmond Hotel Splendido (belmond.com/splendido-portofino) in Portofino — 40km west along the coast — is the grande dame of the Italian Riviera: a former 16th-century monastery above Portofino harbour, converted to a hotel in 1901, with views across the Ligurian Sea from every room and terrace. Rates from $1,500/night.

NH Collection Genova Marina (nh-hotels.com) in Genoa provides an excellent base for day trips to all five villages by regional rail (Cinque Terre is 90 minutes from Genova Brignole station). Rates from $200/night.

The Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail)

The Sentiero Azzurro links all five villages by coastal footpath — the full route (approximately 12km) takes 4–5 hours of walking through vineyards, lemon terraces, and clifftop macchia. The most celebrated section is the Via dell'Amore (Lovers' Lane) between Riomaggiore and Manarola — a dramatic clifftop path that was closed for structural repairs and has been periodically reopened. Current status should be verified at parconazionale5terre.it before visiting. The trail requires the Cinque Terre Card (purchased at park offices or online: parconazionale5terre.it), which includes unlimited use of the regional train between the five villages.

The Ligurian Coast and Portofino

Portofino — 40km west of the Cinque Terre — is the Italian Riviera's most exclusive harbour town: a tiny fishing village of coloured houses around a natural harbour that has attracted the European aristocracy, Hollywood stars, and the international yacht set since the 1950s. The Castello Brown (castellobrown.com) on the hill above the harbour — private estate open to visitors — offers the finest views of the harbour and the Ligurian coastline. Yacht charter from Portofino provides the most spectacular way to visit the Cinque Terre: arriving by sea, anchoring in the small harbours, and swimming from the boat at the base of the cliffs.

Getting There

The nearest major airport is Genova Cristoforo Colombo (GOA), with connections from Rome, Milan, Frankfurt, and London. Milan Malpensa (MXP) and Pisa (PSA) are also practical arrival points with direct rail connections to La Spezia (the southern gateway to Cinque Terre) or Monterosso. Trenitalia (trenitalia.com) regional trains connect the five villages every 20–30 minutes.

Reference Links:

- Cinque Terre National Park: parconazionale5terre.it

- Cinque Terre Card: parconazionale5terre.it/en/cinque-terre-card

- Belmond Hotel Splendido Portofino: belmond.com/splendido-portofino

- Cantina Cinque Terre winery: cantina5terre.com

- Castello Brown Portofino: castellobrown.com

- Trenitalia Cinque Terre: trenitalia.com

- UNESCO World Heritage — Cinque Terre: whc.unesco.org/en/list/826