Sunday, 10 January 2016

Seeing The Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre is one of the most beautiful places in Italy. A cluster of five vibrant coastal towns, if you have the time and are in need of some R & R towards the middle or end of your trip, definitely give this area a visit. The five towns of the Cinque Terre are Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. 


The beaches, amazing food and views make these towns worthy of a visit but during peak season staying in one of the five tends to be pretty expensive. To save some cash I stayed at Levanto which is only a short train ride away from all five cities.


The beaches are all beautiful and offer a well earned break if you've spent your trip zipping from city to city. Be aware that some of the beaches require a membership or temporary membership but if you're planning on spending a whole day resting it's usually worth the money so you can get an umbrella, bathroom facilities and a lounge chair. 


The coastal location also means that the seafood is amazing. All of Italy produces excellent food but the Cinque Terre really delivers if you're into freshly caught seafood. As always there are plenty of options for vegetarians (including the trusty Caprese salad which seems to be the universally offered dish when the staff realises you don't eat meat). The other food to try would be anything lemons, be it candy or a cake, as along the coast there are lots of farms that specialise in citrus fruits. 


If you find yourself feeling bored after a bit of a rest however the Cinque Terre also offers a truly amazing hike between the five cities. Though the track is broken in there are a lot of steps so consider your fitness before making the hike. It does offer incredible views however so try and give it a go. If you do get tired however jump into the nearest town and hop on a train to get from city to city, as each town has a stop. 


If you've got the time definitely give the Cinque Terre a visit! Hopefully you find some of my tips helpful!
- Liv 

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