Overview
18 kilometres of coastline, with hiking trails, hidden coves and magical waters
Located on a jagged stretch of coastline on the Riviera di Levante in Liguria, between Punta Mesco and Punta di Montenero, since the 16th century the Cinque Terre have owed their fortune to the Republic of Genoa, which transformed the small agricultural settlements of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore into flourishing maritime villages.
Set along 18 kilometres of stunning coastline, the five villages are still difficult to access, except by train. It is an ideal destination for trekking enthusiasts: popular routes include the Sentiero Azzurro, Monte Vè and Focone, which still preserve traces of the area’s rural history.
Overlooked by a mountain range that runs parallel to the coastline, they are famous for their natural beauty and, in particular, for their beaches, brimming with bays and coves.
Fegina, the new part of Monterosso, has both pebble and sandy beaches, interspersed with impressive rocks, such as Mapassu or Quarto. Here, you will find one of the world’s twenty-five sexiest beaches, according to the American magazine Forbes.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, the area also has various sites that will be of interest to diving enthusiasts, such as Franata di Corniglia, where you can bear witness to a true miracle of nature, among grouper, moray eel, conger eel, lobster, Mediterranean rainbow wrasse and sponges.
Cinque Terre, SP, Italia
