The Cinqueterre is a a favourite destination for a lot of tourists visiting Italy. It is a string of 5 small villages on the Mediterranean coast, hanging between the water and the mountains. There are few or no cars in the villages, and the best way to travel between them is to take the train (there is one every half hour) or the boat (every hour). There are also plenty of trails to walk along the cliff or up in the mountains above the villages.

All the villages have a really great atmosphere, the absence of cars makes them quiet and authentic. You can enjoy the sandy beach in Monterosso, or step off of the coastal trail, find a quiet rock and jump into crystal clear water. Of course there are also plenty of nice restaurants and bars, especially in Monterosso, the biggest of the villages.

Overall it is a very special place and we really love going there.

And of course, if you want your wedding pictures to feature a view of the water, there is no better place in the region.

How to get to the Cinqueterre

It is a hour and a half drive from Lucca to The Cinqueterre.

Driving, to Monterosso (the northernmost and biggest village): take the highway towards Viareggio (A11), then Genova (A12), before Genova, exit towards Levante, turn left at the end of the ramp, then continue for half an hour on a narrow mountain road to get to Monterosso.

Driving, to Riomaggiore (the southernmost village): take the highway towards Viareggio (A11), then Genova (A12), exit towards La Spezia, then follow the signs for Riomaggiore.

By train it is a 2 hour trip from Lucca, through Viareggio or Pisa. See Trenitalia's web site to get the schedules.

Links

• The Official Cinqueterre Website
• Geobloggers (satellite image and pictures)

posted by michel, 2005-09-11