A Guide to the Villages in Cinque Terre, Italy
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Located in the Italian region of Liguria the Cinque Terre attracts over 25 million people a year. A question many of these visitors ask is, what are the five villages of Cinque Terre? And I have the answer.
From North to South, the villages that make up the Cinque Terre are; Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Cornigla, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Stick around to discover more about each Cinque Terre village and the best things to do.
Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso is the flattest of all the villages, as the town isn’t built into the cliffs like the others. You also find it’s the only village with long spans of a real beach, so if you prioritize relaxing by the sea this one is for you.
The village is split into two distinctive parts, the old town and the new. You’ll find a tunnel that runs under the Aurora Tower dividing the two. The old town has narrow streets and the classic Cinque Terre multicoloured facades, with artisanal shops, restaurants and bars. Whereas the new town has more resort-like accommodation options and has a modern seaside town feel to it.
Things To Do In Monterosso
Climb to Punta Mesco viewpoint, location here
Wander the streets of the Old Town
Relax, read and enjoy a beach day
Stop by Chiesa di San Francesco
Enjoy a delicious scoop or two of gelato at Il Golosone
Vernazza
Vernazza was my favourite village, albeit slightly biased as it’s where we stayed and therefore the place I spent the most time. It’s arguably one of the smaller villages with one main street leading down from the train station to the main plaza by the harbour. Sitting in the plaza and watching the world go by was one of my favourite things to do in Vernazza.
If you’re willing to climb upwards, which let’s face it you kind of have to be in Cinque Terre. Then follow some of the winding lanes up to great viewpoints, secret hidden spots, gigantic lemon trees and even a castle.
Things To Do In Vernazza
Try the classic Ligurian dish, Troife al Pesto at La Torre (a restaurant with incredible views over Vernazza)
Relax with a spritz in the harbour
Take a look around Chiesa di Santa Margherita d'Antiochia
Explore the ruins of Doria Castle
Have breakfast at Il Pirata delle 5 Terre
Corniglia
Corniglia is the smallest of the five villages and sits 100m above sea level. If you arrive by train, you’ll find a lot of stairs waiting for you. This quiet clifftop village is surrounded by vineyards and stone terraces making it very scenic. Take in the best views of the village along the Blue Trail between Vernazza and Corniglia.
The alleyways of Corniglia are small so bear this in mind when choosing when to visit, I would suggest early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday crowds. Also don’t believe the myth that there is no access to the seafront in Corniglia, if you're willing to take a steep staircase just follow the ‘Al Mare’ signs down to a small harbour, location here.
Things To Do In Corniglia
Head down towards the seafront and have a spritz at Marina di Corniglia
Get lost in the narrow alleyways of Corniglia
Taste some local wine on the lovely terrace at Terra Rossa
Enjoy the sea views from the Belvedere di Santa Maria lookout
Manarola
Even on a cloudy day when I visited Manarola, I was mesmerised by the pastel buildings that rolled into the terraced farmlands. I found it to be one of the busier of the five villages, but if you drift away from the main street you’ll find some calm in the winding alleyways.
It’s often said this this is the best village in the Cinque Terre to catch a sunset and as the golden hour hits, I can agree Manarola is the place to be.
Things To Do In Manarola
Take the infamous pesto cooking class at Nessun Dorma
Go for a dip in the sea at the Harbour
Watch a sunset from Punta Bonfiglio
Stroll through Manarola’s vineyards, starting at San Lorenzo Church and ending at Manarola Cemetery, find the route here
Walk the recently reopened Via Dell’Amore to Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore is the liveliest of the five villages, you’ll find bars and restaurants stay open later and will feel more of a buzz within the streets.
The harbour in Riomaggiore is possibly one of the most recognisable spots in the Cinque Terre and is said to have inspired some of the scenery for the Disney film ‘Luca’. The colourful stone houses and fishing boats at the harbour are a sight to be savoured.
Things To Do In Riomaggiore
Stop for a spritz in the colourful harbour and stay for a sunset
Walk the recently reopened Via Dell’Amore to Manarola
Check out the views at Castello di Riomaggiore
Rent a kayak and explore the coastline around Riomaggiore
Try the local delicacy of a cone of fried fish from Tutti Fritti
Although all these villages have individual attributes the one thing connecting them all is the Blue Trail (Sentiero Azzurro). Literally it’s a path that means you can walk all the way from Monterosso to Riomaggiore. This is, in my opinion, the best way to experience the villages, however if a stretch of the path is closed or you aren’t much of a hiker you can always catch the train.
Read more in my Cinque Terre travel guide here ->
Have you visited any of the Cinque Terre villages before? Which was your favourite and why? Let us know in the comments below.
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