Travels in Italy--Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre are 5 seaside towns on the Italian Riviera.  They are small hamlets perched on cliffs along the Ligurian Sea, linked by rugged trails atop the cliffs and a train line cut through the cliffs. 

For many decades, Cinque Terre has been a summer tourist destination, with boats and trains bringing 1,000's to visit every day.  Although Cinque Terre is today a crowded mecca for travelers visiting Italy, the towns have retained their ancient look and charm.  They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.   

While traveling in northern Italy, we visited Ciinque Terra's 5 towns:  Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare.  Each is small and picturesque, with a tiny harbor, brightly-colored buildings and narrow streets.   

We traveled to Cinque Terre via boat from Porto Venere.

Below is a collection of photos from our visit to the Cinque Terre. Enjoy!

(Photo taken by a visiting friend)

During our tour, we visited two churches. 

Perhaps this church should be renamed?  Our Lady of the Holy Helmets.

Susan visiting an area behind the altar being restored

The Madonna protecting sailors from a shipwreck

As recently as 2011, some of the Cinque Terre towns have suffered from flooding.  Above is photo showing how high the 2011 flood reached.   As a result of the recent flood, one of the famous trails between the towns was washed away and  the path remains closed.

A market in the town square, with a watchtower in the background

Some random dude on a typical street in Cinque Terre

What is this?  A pillbox from WWII or a gun emplacement to ward off more tourists when the town is full?

An extraordinary sight in Cinque Terre are the terraces cut into the steep cliffs around the towns.   The terraces (pictured below) have long been used for cultivating grapes and other crops.  To support Cinque Terre's economy, we enjoyed some of the local wine. 

Thanks for visiting Cinque Terre with us.