The Cinque Terre, or literally The 5 Lands, are considered one of the most evocative parts of the Italian coast. Sea meets land in dramatic fashion, and these small villages have been built following the twists and turns of the hills as they drop to the Mediterranean.
The Cinque Terre is noted for its beauty, which led to its being named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and national Marine Protected Area in 1997. Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces to cultivate grapes and olives on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the Mediterranean Sea.
The coastal settlements in the Cinque Terre were all established between the 11th and 13th century, but only the opening of the railway in 1874 led to significant changes, removing the villages from their centuries-old isolation.
The train is the ideal means of transport to go to Cinque Terre. The runs are very frequent, especially during the summer, and the trains stop in all the towns. The terminus is in La Spezia, on the Pisa-Genova railway line, where all the long-distance trains stop.
In spring-summer there are daily connections by ferry from La Spezia, Lerici, and Porto Venere. Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore are also connected during the day by inner navigation lines, with the main terminus at Monterosso.
The paths of the Cinque Terre were the only connection between the villages, and between the villages and the hinterland for centuries. Today the path network developing along more than 120 kilometers allows visitors to admire and enjoy the whole territory. These paths must only be walked under good weather conditions, with appropriate shoes and by people having proper hiking experience.
FULL DAY EXCURSIONS TO CINQUE TERRE
Hiking Adventures in the beautiful “Le Cinque Terre” with an English Speaking, Licensed Hiking Guide and Private Driver
Visit the villages and churches and learn about the area’s history, food, wine and traditions and experience the best vistas while walking the famed “sentieri” paths between towns through the hills and vineyards.
Tour 1- 6 to 7 hours
Your English Speaking driver will take you to La Spezia. Here you will meet your hiking guide with whom you will drive the beautiful panoramic road directly to the hill-top village of Volastra, perched amidst green terraces far above the Ligurian Sea.
In Volastra you will start hiking in the direction of Corniglia, an ancient Roman hamlet with a long and rich agricultural tradition in the middle of the Cinque Terre. Perched on a cliff which is about 100 meters high, Corniglia is surrounded on 3 sides by vineyards and terraces. It is the only village that is almost inaccessible from the sea. To reach it from its train station, one needs to climb the “Lardarina”, a long brick staircase (33 flights with 377 steps), or by the road open to vehicles going up from the railway.
If the path from Corniglia to Vernazza is open, you will keep on hiking otherwise your driver will take you to Vernazza, a beautiful small fishing village surrounded by steeply-terraced olive groves with a charming piazza with restaurants and bars. Here you will have lunch in the lovely setting of a terrace overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. Perched on a majestic cliff, Vernazza’s castle was used by naval forces to protect the village from the Saracens.
After lunch you will either continue hiking from Vernazza to Monterosso, or alternatively if you prefer you can take the local boat to Monterosso. There you will meet your driver who will take you back to your destination.
Tour 2 – 6 hours
Your English Speaking driver will take you to La Spezia. Here you will meet your hiking guide who will join you on the drive to Manarola. Built on a high rock 70 meters above sea level, Manarola is one of the most charming and romantic of the villages. A sunny paradise of steeply built grape terraces and olive trees, it is an ancient hamlet where the buildings seem to rise from the cliff and range along a rocky spur leading from the sea. Steep, narrow carrugi (alleys) weave through the town. It has a tiny harbor with a boat ramp, picturesque multi-colored houses and a small piazza with seafood restaurants.
From there you will hike through Volastra and on to Corniglia. In Corniglia you can have a typical local lunch. After lunch you can choose to be driven back to Portovenere. Alternatively, if you’d like to experience the views by sea, you can drive to the center of Manarola where you can board the local boat to Portovenere. Here you will meet with your driver who will take you back to your destination.
Tour 3 – 6 hours
Your English Speaking driver will take you to Portovenere for a visit. Portovenere is a beautiful town overlooking the Gulf of Poets, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that also encompasses the Cinque Terre. Portovenere is much quieter than the Cinque Terre villages but no less scenic. A stroll through its old town up to the castle, a visit to the black and white striped St. Peter church perched on its own promontory, scenic views from Byron’s Grotto and harborside restaurants to dine on local seafood make the town a rewarding destination on its own.
Here you will meet your hiking guide who will join you to take a local boat to Vernazza. The approach to Vernazza by sea is breathtaking, as you approach the cliff hugging village by a different perspective, admiring how the the town perches high above the water. Here you will have lunch in the lovely setting of a terrace overlooking the beautiful Ligurian Sea.
After lunch you will hike to Monterosso. In 1214, Monterosso was established, and the first fortifications were built to protect the hamlet from the invasion of the Saracens, so that this became the most majestic defense system in the Cinque Terre. Largest of the five villages, Monterosso’s hills are cultivated with grapevines and olive trees. The town is divided into two parts by the medieval Aurora tower. The newer part, Fegina, is full of life, with many hotels and restaurants and its Statue of the Giant, representing Neptune. The old town has castle ruins, narrow medieval streets called carrugi and the only extensive sand beach in the Cinque Terre. Afterwards you will meet with your driver who will take you back to your destination.
Tour 4 – 6 to 7 hours
Choose the level you prefer!
A. Challenging hiking: Start in Riomaggiore. Situated between two steep terraced hills overlooking the sea, the ancient hamlet of Riomaggiore strikes the visitors with its vertical and delightfully colored houses. Most southern village in the Cinque Terre, it is connected to Manarola by the famous Via dell’Amore path. Admire the cascade of multi-colored houses tightly clustered around a tiny natural harbor carved between the rocks, and the castle built in 1260 that has wonderful sea views. We will hike the footpath from Riomaggiore to Manarola, then proceed to Corniglia via Volastra, taking in the gorgeous views all along our way. We will have a scenic lunch in Corniglia then proceed with our hiking to Vernazza, and if you still have the strength, continue on from Vernazza to Monterosso. There you will return by boat to Riomaggiore where you meet your driver to take you home.
B. Moderate hiking: warm up in Manarola with a short but scenic 1 kilometer circle route, the take the train to Corniglia. From there we will hike the footpath from Corniglia to Vernazza. We will have lunch in Vernazza and then continue hiking in the afternoon to Monterosso. Return by boat to La Spezia or Portovenere, from where you meet your driver to return to your lodging.
http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Esentieri-outdoor.php
