Page 127 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

CINQUE TERRE  125

worth the effort – visitors will be
rewarded with incredible views.
Sadly the main street of the
village and the buildings along
it suffered extensive damage in
the floods of October 2011, but
tremendous efforts have been
taken to restore the village to its
original glory. Some footpaths
remain closed, however.

Corniglia
Corniglia is in the centre of the
Cinque Terre, perched on a high
promontory and surrounded on
three sides by terraced vineyards. The colourful houses at Manarola
It is the smallest village and was
the last to succumb to tourism, viewpoint, from which visitors further uphill, visit the Church of
mainly due to the difficulties can enjoy incredible views along San Giovanni Battista and the
visitors encounter in reaching it. the whole coastline. 13th-century castle, and enjoy
Day-trippers can choose to tackle wonderful views of the village
the 382 steep steps from the Riomaggiore from both.
waterfront train station or hike in Riomaggiore is the nearest
from neighbouring Vernazza. village to La Spezia and the Getting Around
On arrival, visitors will be unofficial capital of the Cinque
rewarded with some great Terre. It is divided into two parts There are three main ways of
places to eat and a number of by the railway line. The lower reaching and moving between
interesting shops. Wander along part is the fishing village where the Cinque Terre villages:
the main street and enjoy your visitors can watch fisherman
focaccia or gelato in the scenic hauling in the day’s catch, or Car
piazzetta, or visit the Belvedere di enjoy a delicious seafood feast Driving is discouraged; the
Santa Maria, a breezy sea-facing at one of the restaurants dotted villages are built into narrow
terrace that offers 180-degree around the small, characteristic valleys/hilltops and have very
limited road access and parking
views of the Cinque Terre coast- port. Surrounded by colourful facilities. If you must bring a car,
line. It the only place where all town houses and with boats leave it in nearby La Spezia and
five villages can be seen at once. lined up along its ramp, it is the take the train.
Cinque Terre at its best.
Manarola Via Colombo, the steep main Train
Clinging to a cliff overlooking the street, is located in the upper The train is by far the easiest
sea, the village of Manarola is a part of the village, flanked by method of reaching the Cinque
strikingly beautiful sight with its terraced vineyards. Here visitors Terre and travelling between the
compact, colourful houses rising can find a variety of restaurants, villages. Between 6am and
up from the sea. It marks the bars and souvenir shops, and a 11:30pm, a Cinque Terre Card is
beginning of the famous Via piazza in which to take a break available which allows a full or
dell’Amore (“The Way of Love”) from the many steps. Climbing multi-day pass (€12 for a one-
footpath, an easy-to-walk, 2 km day pass, €23 for a two-day pass).
paved path connecting Manarola
to Riomaggiore, so called Ferry
because it provided easy passage The ferry is an excellent way
from which to admire the Cinque
for young lovers who lived in the Terre villages and to move
two small towns. Due to some between them. High-speed
major rock-slides, parts of the passenger boats run between
path are currently closed. the villages (except for Corniglia
Other attractions include the which has no port access) up to
Church of San Lorenzo, located in 20 times a day, starting at 10am
the upper part of the village. and ending after 6pm. Tickets
A richly decorated Gothic edifice, (€4–€9) and hop on/hop off
it features a rose window dating passes are available. The ferries
back to the 14th century. A connect the Cinque Terre to
14th-century oratory and a 13th Levanto as well as Portovenere
century bell tower can be found and, during peak months,
in the same square. Visitors Portofino.
shouldn’t miss the Punta Boats lined up at the tiny port of
Bonfiglio, Manarola’s prized Riomaggiore

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