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 

To Tour or Not to Tour in Italy

One of the biggest dilemmas I faced when booking my holiday to Italy was whether or not I should book a tour of some of the country's most notable sights. They're either a great experience or completely shocking, with very little in between. There were a few tours that I'd absolutely recommend and a few that I'd give a complete miss. 

The Vatican - To Tour

The Vatican is one of the most amazing sights in all of Italy, which means that it's also one of the most crowded sights in Italy. It's worth booking a tour, even if it's just to avoid the massive line to get in, especially in peak season.

Pros:

- Avoid the huge wait (Can be upwards of 2 hours in peak season)

- Get a thorough explanation of the most important areas of the Vatican

- Don't have to pay for extra access to St. Peter's Basilica 

Cons:

- Don't get to choose your own pace

- Is one of the more expensive tours in Rome

Naples - Not To Tour

I have to say that of all the tours I took, the short amount of time I spent in Naples was probably the least worth the money. There's not a lot to look at in Naples aside from the Archaeological Museum. I didn't even spend half a day in Naples and that was enough. 

Pros:

- You get to see Naples.

Cons:

- You have to pay to see Naples. 

Murano Burano- To Tour

A fairly short boat ride away from Venice, Murano and Burano are known for their production of glass and lace respectively. They're worth the trip if you're spending a few days in Venice, especially in the warmer months. 

Pros:

- Most tours include demonstrations of how they create glass sculptures and lace.

- Opportunity to pick up some beautiful souvenirs.

- Perfect for a warm day when you want to be on the water

Cons:

- Usually paired with a particular workshop where you're encouraged to exclusively share money.

- Not ideal if you're in Venice for a short amount of time. 

The Colosseum - Not To Tour

The Colosseum is a bit of a catch 22 regarding tour groups. If it's the only sight you'll see in the tour then I'd advise against it. The tour I took though also went through Palatine Hill, which made it worth it. If you're just getting a tour of the Colosseum though, then save your money.

Pros:

- Quick access to The Colosseum

- Can get a tour including Palatine Hill included

- Decent explanation of the history of the Colosseum

Cons:

- Generally massive group sizes

- Expensive if you're only seeing the Colosseum 

- Usually a pretty short tour

Pompeii And Herculaneum - To Tour

I’ve already mentioned Pompeii and Herculaneum in a previous post but I think they’re worth mentioned again. I’d absolutely book a tour for Pompeii and Herculaneum, even if it’s just a day tour. The information you get about the sites alone makes it worth it. But it’s also such a huge site that you end up saving time with a guide.

Pros:

-       - Get a thorough explanation of the history

-       - Avoid getting lost as you explore

-      -  Don’t have to wait for entry

Cons:

-       - Usually quite expensive

-       - You’re on a tight schedule

Day Trips In Italy

Italy is one of the oldest and most amazing countries in the world. As such there's a lot of ground to cover and, most likely, not enough time. There are a few day trips though that are worth dedicating the time to. 

Lucca

Best visited when you're staying in Florence, Lucca is one of Italy's walled cities, surrounded entirely by a raised stone wall. There are some interesting to sights within the small city, including some piazzas and churches, but the most worthwhile thing to do is a bike ride. 

There's a lot of traffic inside the city so rent and take a bike to the wall, reserved only for pedestrians and bikes. The ride is fairly flat and the paths aren't too congested so you can really take the time to appreciate the city. 

When you get hungry there's a plethora of decent restaurants inside the city. And it's hard to feel guilty about a huge bowl of pasta after you've done an entire circuit of the city. 

Pompeii and Herculaneum

If you only have time for one day trip this is the one I'd recommend. The ancient historical sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum are best accessed from somewhere along the coast, like Capri. 

A tour group is absolutely recommended, purely so that you get a good grasp of the historical significance of the cities. Don't be put off if your tour group is taken through a jewelers at the beginning, most tour groups have some sort of sponsor and the actual tours are amazing. 

The only real advice I can offer is to wear sensible shoes. I was witness to more than one tourist stacking it on the cobblestone and trenches in the paths, originally designed for carts. 

For any history buffs though, these sites are a must see. They've been maintained wonderfully, including the gardens, which have been grown in the hopes of recreating how they were before Mt Vesuvius erupted. 

Ana Capri

Ana Capri is one of the most beautiful sights in Italy. As you climb higher and higher into the city the view of the surrounding ocean becomes more and more incredible. 

Ana Capri is also the location of the 'Blue Grotto', a cave accessible only by boat which waters reflect a right blue light. Unfortunately this Grotto isn't always accessible and is dependant on the conditions of the ocean and any poor weather. I had to give it a miss and instead took a tour around Ana Capri by a larger boat. 

If you wanted to stroll down to the beach just be aware that you have a long walk back up to the top, so carve out enough time to make the trek, especially if you've got a tour group waiting on you. If you're planning on spending the majority of your time in Italy between Florence, Rome and the other metropolitan cities then Ana Capri is worth the trip, even if it's just for a day by the beautiful coast. 

Happy travels!
- Liv 

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG

On this blog, six different members will blog about six different countries that we have been to. We'll offer tips on where to eat, visit, stay, go and explore for each respective country. Whether it's about the best gelato in Florence or the freshest sushi in Japan we'll be offering up our experiences in the hopes that they enrich your own. Stay tuned for more information about visiting Sri Lanka, Italy, Japan, Croatia, Vietnam and Bali! 

The team at the Escapist   from left to right Seb, Sham,Liv, Alice,Anne,Rhea

- Liv, Seb, Anne, Rhea, Sham & Alice