Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is five fishing villages - Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore - strung along a short stretch of Liguria's coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Villagers built dry-stone terraces for vines and olives where the cliffs meet the sea and stacked the houses into whatever room was left. A railway that tunnels from cove to cove joins them, along with footpaths and boats. I think it rewards going slowly: a walk between two villages, a long lunch above the water.
Cinque Terre Itinerary: Stay for the Evenings
A Cinque Terre itinerary for one to four nights: why the evening decides the plan, where to sleep, how to shape each day, and which dates to watch.
Genoa to Cinque Terre: Close, If Your Train Stops There
The Cinque Terre is about an hour from Genoa by train, but most trains skip most villages. Here's the one that stops at yours, from town, ship or airport.
Venice to Cinque Terre: Which Way There, Which Way Back
No train runs Venice to the Cinque Terre direct. Your village picks Florence or Milan, and on the way back, the wrong train stops short of Santa Lucia.
Cinque Terre Beaches: Pebbles, Rocks, and a Real Beach
Monterosso has the Cinque Terre's one sand beach. Vernazza and Manarola mean harbor rocks inside a rope. Which village suits which swimmer, and when to go.
Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast? A Full Day Apart
Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast: a crowded train line or a slow road. How to pick your problem, and whether both fit in one trip.
Rome to Cinque Terre: Where You Change, and Which Ticket
Ten direct trains a day run Rome to La Spezia, none into the villages. Where to change, the one ticket that covers it, and the last train back to Rome.
La Spezia to Cinque Terre: 8 Minutes by Train, 80 by Boat
The train reaches all five Cinque Terre villages from La Spezia in 8 to 25 minutes. When the 80-minute boat is worth it, and when the Card beats a ticket.
Milan to Cinque Terre: Direct, but to One Village
Seven direct Intercity trains a day run Milan to Monterosso in about 3 hours. Where they don't stop, the last train home, and when a night beats the day.
Hiking the Cinque Terre: Is Any of It Easy?
Hiking Cinque Terre: the park grades both coastal walks expert. Which one to pick, what the Card costs, and the two pages to check before you go.
Florence to Cinque Terre: Day Trip or a Night?
No train reaches the villages without a change, and weekday directs start near midday. The early trains that make the day work, and when a night beats it.