The Cinque Terre National Park is located on the west coast of Italy, in the Ligurian region of La Spezia.
The park’s name means “Five Lands”, and it is so named because it is made up of five small commune towns, picturesquely nestled by the sea, among the mountain slopes. Since 1997, the Cinque Terre Park, as well as the nearby town of Portovenere, have been awarded UNESCO heritage status.
The first settlements in what is now Cinque Terre date back to the Roman Empire. But most of the sights date back to the Middle Ages. These include man-made terraces along the seashore and monuments of religious and secular architecture: temples, sanctuaries, palaces and old mansions.
All the towns of the Five Lands except Monterosso are off-limits to cars (Monterosso is also heavily restricted). The towns are so close to each other that any of them can be easily reached on foot, enjoying the breathtaking panoramas along the way. And for those who for some reason do not want to travel on foot, you can get between the towns by sea – by boat, and by land – by train.
The Cinque Terre National Park of Italy includes the following towns: Riomaggiore – the southernmost commune of the park and the closest to the town of Spezia. It was founded in the early 13th century.
Riomaggiore is divided into three parts: the railway station area, the town proper and the marina with a small rocky beach. Riomaggiore is connected to neighbouring Manarola by the famous Love Road, a very scenic walking trail. Among the sights of the town are the Church of St John the Baptist, which was built in 1340;
Manarola – here you can find the ruins of an ancient bastion, visit the small village of Groppo, where wonderful wine is made, and see the image of the Madonna, dating back to the 8th century, in the Shrine of the Virgin of Health.
Vernazza – rightly called the most beautiful of the communes of the “Five Lands” and the pearl of the national park. Colourful buildings cluster by the seashore, medieval villas and modern houses mingle in the streets, the Belforte Tower and the walls of Castel Doria offer unforgettable views of the surrounding countryside.
Monterosso is the fifth, from south to north, and the largest of the Cinque Terre towns. It is divided into two parts, the new town and, respectively, the old town. Monterosso has the largest and most well-maintained beach. The main architectural sights of Monterosso are the Aurora Tower, preserved from an ancient fortress and built in the 16th century, the giant statue of Neptune carrying a shell on his shoulder, the Church of St John the Baptist with the adjoining chapel of Mortis et Orationis (“Death and Prayer”).
The tour starts in La Spezia or any of the towns of Cinque Terre.
