Cinque Terre, Italy - stunning coastal views, rustic vineyards and amazing tetris towns

Welcome to Cinque Terre, a beautiful stretch of the western Italian coastline. The name literally means 5 lands, which in this case refers to the 5 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 have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. And you'll soon see why. The 5 villages of Cinque Terre are connected by a coastal walkway. It provides some stunning views as you walk along the coastline between the villages. Some of the paths were quite easy and while others were steep and a little tiring (especially in the heat). Overall, definitely worth it for the views.

 

My first stop was Monterosso. The largest and most touristy town of the five. The town itself and the beaches were beautiful. Unfortunately, the hoards of crowds were a little off putting. I stopped here only for a short time. A quick drink (it was rather hot) and some photos and then i was off to the next town.

Monterosso, Cinque Terre, Italy

Given its proximity to the sea, much of the Cinque Terre life is based in and around the sea. Boats are scattered along the beach (as shown above). Below is a life saving device belonging to what i assume to be a boat club.  

Boat club of Monterosso?

Being such a popular tourist destination, Monterosso (and all the villages for that matter), have several restaurants and gift/souvenir shops. Pictured below is a restaurant which caught my eye. I didn't eat there, it just looked like a nice place. 

Monterosso, Cinque Terre, Italy

After the first hot and tiring walk, we arrived in Vernazza. Probably my favourite of the towns. It was quite small compared to Monterosso, but full of life and another popular destination tourists. I stopped here for lunch here, which almost turned out to be the lunch from Hell when a wave crashed over the breakwall, flooding the outdoor dining area of the restaurant which i was at. Some people were injured from the freak wave, luckily, myself and my camera were safe.

Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy

The streets of Vernazza were stone pathed, with businesses and housing lining the sides of the street. Pictured below is one of my favourite shots of Cinque Terre (maybe the even the whole Italy trip). I doesn't show anything particularly beautiful, but i think it captures the essence of the Cinque Terre villages. 

Sunset in the streets of Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy

After another hard walk (possibly the hardest and longest), I arrived in Corniglia. Another beautiful town! A small portion of the town is built on a hill that hangs precariously over the water. It's amazing how many houses they can cram into such a small place.

Corniglia, Cinque Terre, Italy

While walking to the next village, i stumbled across this house which sat on the hill overlooking the water. No matter which way you looked, there was something of beauty here.

The hillsides of Corniglia, Cinque Terre, Italy

Apart from being well known for its beaches and coastal walks, Cinque Terre is also a producer of wine. The walking trails take you in and around the hills where the vineyards are situated. I purchased a bottle, which at the time thought was a sweet white dessert wine. When i returned to Australia, I excitedly opened the bottle only to find out it was a highly potent bottle of liquor, yuck! 

Cinque Terre Vineyards, Italy

Being so close to sea means that Cinque Terre is also known for its seafood dishes. When i saw the dish pictured below on the menu I just had to try it. And it was delicious!

Stuffed mussels in a tomato sauce, Yum. Cinque Terre, Italy.

Sadly the walk between Corniglia and the next town along, Manarola, was closed, so I missed out on photos from that section of the walk. Manarola, as you can see below, is another city perched on a hill. Manarola was also a popular destination for swimmers, although there was no beach here. People were just swimming in the cove, with the breakwall providing the protection from the waves. Given my lack of swimming ability at the best of times, i was reluctant to dive in, specially since i would not be able to touch the bottom.

Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy

The walk between Manarola and Riomaggiore was by far the easiest, fairly flat and paved most of the way. Riomaggiore was a small town, with a very small beach as you can see below. The houses in Riomaggiore (and most of the other villages) were arranged in a tetris like fashion, with many different colours splashed on the walls. A spectacular site to behold.

Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, Italy

So there is my view from the lens in Cinque Terre. Sadly, the region was recently hit by floods. Several people died and much of the villages and coastal walks were damaged as well. I hope in time that it is restored to its former glory and I highly recommend you visit when it's back up and running.