I am coming from a few days in Tuscany. I just left the rented car in La Spezia and boarded the train to Cinque Terre. This is my last stop for my long-overdue and first trip to Italy. I’m still marveling at what I’ve just experienced in a region dotted with medieval hill towns and rich scenery, and I really don’t know what to expect. Fortunately, the Trenitalia ride is short and in less than ten minutes I’ve already figured out that I’ll have a blast here too.

The Cinque Terre translates into “five lands.” Five lands that are so unique, all of them have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1997. These lands are actually five small coastal villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. The fishing villages were originally constructed on cliff-sides, right there perched over the cobalt waters of the Mediterranean Sea. A bunch of buildings are piled up, painted in incredible pastel colors that time transformed in patina-like textures leading to the ocean via countless winding narrow streets and stairs.

I stayed three nights in Monterosso, the northernmost of them all, but moving around is easy as they are all connected via the train. Aside from the villages there are also olive fields, vineyards, and gardens layered over the cliffs; hiking the trails around them and taking in the vistas is jaw-dropping. This is a place that truly deserves a longer stay; like every place in Italy, the food is fantastic and I loved the peace and calm of the villages at night.

I really enjoyed walking around and making photos of all the villages in Cinque Terre. I am glad my stay was not rushed and I hope to come back in the future.

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