Cinque Terre Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

Located in the northwestern Italian region of Liguria, the Cinque Terre (Five Lands) is a string of five small towns dating back to the Middle Ages. They're located on a gorgeous, rocky stretch of the Ligurian Riviera coastline, between the cities of Genoa and La Spezia.

The towns of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare are locked between mountains and the sea. They are best known for their iconic, colorful houses dotting the coastline, all built on tiny, winding alleys. For lack of farmland, locals shaped the steep rocks of the surrounding mountains into dry stone terraces, where they grew vineyards and produced white wines and the famous sweet Sciacchetra passito wine, made from dried grapes.

The area and its several hiking paths, famous for their charming nature and extraordinary views, connect the five towns. Because of the rare flora and unique environment, the coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides have been named a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Must See or Do

Sights—Il Gigante, the statue of Neptune overlooking the beach in Monterosso; the enchanting Piazza Marconi on Vernazza Harbor; Old Town Corniglia on a 300-ft/100-m promontory; the Presepe (nativity scene) during the Christmas season in Manarola; murals by Argentine artist Silvio Benedetto in Riomaggiore.

Museums—The landmark Chiesa di San Francesco and Convento Frati Cappuccini in Monterosso; Castello Doria, which boasts a great view over the sea in Vernazza; ruins of Riomaggiore Castle.

Memorable Meals—Octopus in bacon and other beautifully prepared dishes at the classy Ristorante Miky in Monterosso; a great seafood dinner of stuffed anchovies, Genovese soup and stuffed mussels at Gianni Franzi, in the square overlooking Vernazza harbor; the charming atmosphere and the fresh fish of Marina Piccola in Manarola; the great view and wines of A Pie' de Ma' at the beginning of the celebrated Via dell'Amore in Riomaggiore.

Late Night—Via Fegina beach parties during summer in Monterosso; the rustic charm of Il Casello pub in Monterosso; fun live music on the weekends at Cantina dello Zio Bramante in Manarola; good drinks and friendly service at Vertical Bar, Riomaggiore.

Walks—The Levanto-Monterosso Footpath; Sentiero Azzurro (Light Blue Path), a coastal trail connecting the five towns of Cinque Terre.

Especially for Kids—Discovering the Ligurian Sea on a Monterosso Pescaturismo fishing tour; the Corniglia specialty, gelato al miele, at Alberto Gelateria; diving classes for all ages at Diving Center 5 Terre in Riomaggiore.

History

Even though the Cinque Terre area has been populated since Roman times, the two oldest towns, Monterosso and Vernazza, were officially founded around the 11th century. The other villages are Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

After being under the domination of local noble families, the five towns were sold to the Republic of Genoa in 1276. In the 16th century, the towns faced pirate attacks and built a system of fortification to defend themselves. In 1815, the area became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and in 1861, it ultimately became part of the unified Italy. The building of a railway line between Genoa and La Spezia at the end of the 19th century ended the historical isolation of the towns, which have become an increasingly beloved tourist spot.