Near Genoa, five unspoiled villages overlook the Mediterranean
The Cinque Terre, pure and hard authenticity on the Italian coast
Cinque Terre, or the five lands in literal translation. In this corner of Liguria, in the north-west of Italy (between Genoa and Pisa, near La Spezia, to be precise), time seems to have stood still for ages. Generations have succeeded each other over the centuries to create five villages with multi-storey architecture, above the Mediterranean. The houses built of stone are supported by 7000 linear kilometers of rough walls, shaped by nature. An abrupt exposure that has managed to preserve the Cinque Terre and, thus, avoid the massive expansion of habitats. The vineyards present on this earthly paradise accentuate this feeling of unique landscape.
8 kilometers preserved by Unesco
Between the beauty of its cliffs and the unspoiled winding paths leading to idyllic beaches, Unesco registered the Cinque Terre as a World Heritage Site in 1997. An appellation regrouping the National Park and a Marine Protected Area making villages of Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Manarola, Vernazza, Monterosso one of the least polluted places in the Mediterranean. In the tiny coves, you will have proof of this by discovering crystal clear water.
Five villages, five souls
The first village near Genoa, Monterosso al Mare is known for its long beach, while Corniglia is the only one without access to the sea, as it lies on a hill surrounded by vineyards. A bucolic wonder that differs from Vernazza, protected from sea assaults by its rocky promontory. Nestled on a rock, Manarola and Riomaggiore offer Mediterranean-facing houses. Real postcards, both quaint and wild, and so many good reasons to travel to Italy.
