Travel the Desirable Cinque Terre: Italy at Its Finest!

Hello Steemians!

Let's talk about Italy.... More specifically, let's talk about Cinque Terre! The Cinque Terre (made up of five small towns) is a string of fishing villages perched high on the Italian Riviera, (region Liguria), which until recently were linked only by mule tracks and accessible only by rail or water. Incredible, isn't it? If you are a hiker, and enjoy long strolls... and I mean, LONG strolls. It might please you to hear that there is an ancient system of footpaths, which allow you to hike through the mountains, reaching each village. Some people say it is the best way to visit the five villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

For those of you who don't know where the Cinque Terre is, take a look at the photograph below:

I have seen YouTube videos in the past that claim a person can walk through all five villages in one day. This may be true for some, but NOT for the average person. I wish I had been told previously to my walk, as I would have just taken the train. Although, I can't say I totally regret the hike.... It was very beautiful... And strenuous. But, beautiful nonetheless. I actually hiked the path in tight, wet jean shorts, a tank top, and flip flops (the kind with no ankle strap). I am only mentioning my jean shorts being wet, soaked in ocean water to be exact, because I had to deal with chafing on my inner thighs all the way to the next village. So, if you decide to do this hike, make sure to wear comfortable clothing. Perhaps something a little more sporty! Down below is one of the desirable swimming locations along the pathway towards Monterosso.

TIP: When deciding to hike from village to village, bring cash. Most of the pathways are managed by the authorities of the National Park of Cinque Terre and require a small fee before allowed to pass through. Below one of the pathways through the mountains.

This was the view of Monterosso. It took us about 3 hours to reach our destination.

Finally we reached Monterosso and I was immediately mesmerized by its beauty. Monterosso is in an ancient village located at the top of a hill, offering an amazing panoramic view to all who venture there. The main tourist attractions are the Old Castle, the Church of Saint John the Baptist, and the Convent of the Capuchin. The enchanting town stands at the foot of Fenigia Hill, and flaunts desirable beaches and rugged cliffs.

The Cinque Terre is noted for its beauty. For centuries now, people have carefully built terraces to cultivate grapes, olive groves, and citrus orchards on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the Mediterranean Sea. This creates the perfect balance between man, his traditions, and nature.

These breath-taking view encompass a wild but hospitable coastline along with the medieval-looking fortresses and bountiful vines. These vibrant colours make this quite a memorable vacation spot!

Note: Most vehicle traffic is restricted inside the villages!

On the outskirts of the Cinque Terre area, my boyfriend and I found the cheapest place to camp. It was in a small town called Deiva Marina. It was a beautiful spot, right next to the ocean. It would have been nice to stay in one of the five villages, but it was too expensive for our budget. Attached below is a picture of my boyfriend and I in the midst of our food poisoning... We call it food poisoning, however we truly believe our sickness came from the tap water. If we could pass along one tip to a fellow traveler, it would be to NOT drink the tap water. Drink bottled water. The evening before was the first and only time we drank from the tap, and we were ill only hours later. We hadn't eaten had any seafood, or any meat really. The water was the only thing that changed.

All in all, the trip was a success. We spent many nights sitting by the waters edge, enjoying some local beers, and taking in the beautiful sunsets.

Whether it is a honeymoon, holiday, or a getaway, the Cinque Terre is a MUST SEE!

Your opinion is very important to me! Please take some time to comment on my post! Have you ever visited the Cinque Terre? Is the hike through the villages something that you would do?

Lots of love,

Stephanie

xox