Cinque Terre

How to get there by car: From La Spezia over Riomaggiore to Monterosso

By train (is recommended): From La Spezia (almost every hour),
8 minutes to Riomaggiore
24 minutes to Monterosso

Parking at La Spezia railway station.

Fantastic is a boat trip (ferry) von Portovenere or Viareggio also as day tour -
more information: <www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it>

The term “Cinque Terre” stems from the five little fisherman villages lined up on the cliffs North of La Spezia, connected with one another by a beautiful trail. This in some parts stony coast path coils its way from Riomaggiore to Monterosso and is named “Via dell’Amore”, certainly not exaggerated with the breathtaking views down on the sea and the romantic rocky landscape: who does not feel the sensation of loving life here must have a heart of stone.

There is certainly no place in Northern Italy that would embody the myths of the Mediterranean better than Cinque Terre.
Each of the five villages seems to have jumped directly out from a picture book, although each of them has its own and individual characteristics and will enchant the visitor with its charm and beauty.
Already the way the coloured houses are built on the cliffs, the way the trails follow the coastline opening the view down on the sea again and again is unforgettable. It is really breathtaking to discover how beautifully human civilisation integrates with the magic of nature.
The Med is so clear here that you can see the bottom.
Monterosso, the most mundane of the five villages has a beautiful beach, but there is also Manarola where you can just walk down to the sea over narrow steps and cool yourself.
Later on the tired rambler can take a rest in one of the little cafés and restaurants at the piazza of Corniglia and enjoy Mediterranean specialities or just an iced chocolate.
Despite the numerous tourists you will enjoy a very relaxed atmosphere, certainly due to the fact that all villages are closed for cars.


Trains arrive almost every hour at the little train stations which, like with a model railway, are squeezed into niches of the rocks.
Train reach Pisa railway station within 10-15 minutes, from where – changing train in Pisa – you have connection to Lucca.
On your way to Lucca you can admire the marble cliffs of Carrara – or just continue to dream of Cinque Terre.

Then that is Cinque Terre: a dream