Travel Excursion:
Cinque Terre
beguiles sun worshipers
Cinque Terre - photo by Patrice Raplee
By Patrice
Raplee
The Northern Mediterranean coastline, with its miles of steep ravines,
sandy beaches, exquisitely tanned inhabitants and charming small towns,
has become a popular destination for tourists. Cinque Terre (the five
towns) is located on the Italian Riviera. The remote small villages
of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare,
are quiet, laid-back communities and are perfect for exploring, hiking
and spending your days drowsing on the beach. Monterosso al Mare is
especially suited to those who take their sun-worshiping seriously.
If you are interested in nightlife or carousing, Cinque Terre is not
for you. These villages and stretch of beaches inspire a slower, more
reverential pace, with the emphasis on nature and local Italian culture.
Cinque Terre is about three hours from Florence via the autostrada,
or two hours south of Milan on the autostrada. The train runs through
the villages as well. The summer months are quite crowded, especially
in the month of August when Italians take their holidays; however fall
and spring are an ideal time to visit.
The drive is beautiful and the scenery unspoiled, for those willing
to take their time. The roads that lead down to the towns and beaches
are extremely steep and narrow. Tour buses frequent the roads to Cinque
Terre during the summer months and often appear just as you're rounding
a tight curve. So if you plan on driving, prepare to go slow and be
cautious as you wind your way down through the precipitous ravines.
The appeal of Cinque Terre lies in the traditional Italian architecture
and picturesque scenery. Each town is different and offers adventures
in swimming, hiking, boat rides, browsing through the shops and long
languid gazes at the deep blue Mediterranean. Sight-seeing in the villages
is devoid of museum culture, but the area is rich in natural beauty.
Cinque Terre is now a national park and proffers many hiking trails;
there is even a footpath that runs through all five villages.
Cinque Terre's restaurants are also alluring and the cuisine varies
from authentic pesto to pizza. The pizza, made in family-owned restaurants,
is absolutely delicious and the best in Italy.
Just before you enter into Monterosso al Mare, there are several small,
family restaurants that serve lunch and dinner outside in quaint little
gardens overlooking the sea. If you have the chance, eat dinner outside
at one of these restaurants and watch the sunset into the Mediterranean,
while enjoying a glass of wine. The experience has no equal and you
won't forget the feel of the warm Riviera sea breeze and mingled scent
of Italian cuisine and summer flowers.
There are several options for accommodations in the villages; private
rooms, pensions and hotels. With the private rooms and pensions, expect
to climb numerous stairs and possibly share a bathroom. If you require
fixed reservations and a private bath with breakfast, the hotels in
Cinque Terre are a better choice.
For in-depth information on accommodations, sight-seeing, restaurants,
town maps and routes, TE recommends Rick Steves' books on Italy. Steves'
books on Italy are extremely useful, accurate and small enough to carry
on your trip. The books contain just about everything that you need
to know to plan and enjoy your trip to Italy. Steves is also airing
a special TV segment on Cinque Terre this month on local public broadcast
stations in your area. Check local listings for times and channels.
An excellent website to visit that affords travelers valuable tourist
information, contacts and photographs of Cinque Terre, is www.cinqueterre.it.
Travelers to Italy have multitudes of options to consider when choosing
the cities and towns they wish to visit. However, if you desire the
natural beauty and cultural heritage of Italy's Mediterranean communities
and want to avoid the Vespas-filled cities, then Cinque Terre is the
most salient selection for you.
For more information on Italy, check with your travel agent, or visit
Rick Steves' Europe Through The Back Door website at www.ricksteves.com
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