Cinque Terre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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| State Party |  Italy |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv, v |
| Reference | 826 |
| Region† | List of World Heritage Sites in Europe |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1997 (21st Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO. |
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This article does not cite any references or sources. (April 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
The Cinque Terre (pronounced CHEEN-kweh TEHR-reh) are five coastal villages in the province of La Spezia in the Liguria region of Italy. They have come to be among the most popular areas of Italy among tourists. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all encapsulated in a national park by the same name. The Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The five villages are, from west to east (i.e., from Genoa towards La Spezia):
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[edit] Transportation and tourism
A local train line from La Spezia to Genoa connects all five villages with high frequency. The train connecting the five villages runs in what is mainly a tunnel for the full distance between Riomaggiore and Monterosso, emerging from the rock infrequently for quick glimpses of the Mediterranean sea.
There is a passenger ferry service running between the five villages, providing a different vantage point of the rugged coastline and shore line at each village. Ferries do not stop at Corniglia because it does not have a natural harbor or marina. The boat leaves from Genoa's Old Harbour and La Spezia, Lerici or Portovenere.
There are well-laid out walking trails connecting each village to its neighbors. The path from Riomaggiore to Manarola is called the Via Dell'Amore (roughly, "Lovers Walk"). This picturesque trail winds along the shore, varying in nature and difficulty from an easy stroll to a rough and physically challenging hike. The stretch from Manarola to Corniglia is also easy to hike, although the main trail into Corniglia finishes with a climb of 368 stairs. The trail from Corniglia to Vernazza is steep at certain places. The trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is by far the steepest. It winds through olive orchards and vineyards and is rough in places, but offers the best view of the bay and the spectacular approaches to both Monterosso and Vernazza. There are nominal fees to use the more popular walking trails, but the less frequently travelled (and most arduous) are free of charge.
All the villages have small hotels or inns, as do some of the smaller villages near the Cinque Terre. There are many bed and breakfasts throughout the area that offer excellent service and frequently beautiful views of the Mediterranean and the surrounding hills. There is no 'conventional' hostel in the Cinque Terre region; however, many small apartment owners in some of the villages have banded together and, in many cases, offer use of their apartments through small, locally-owned hospitality businesses. Because of this arrangement, quality of the accommodations varies greatly; and while many good beds are available, there are often complaints of grungy and overcrowded apartments being rented to visitors. Regardless, this hostel-style shared accommodation is readily available in tourist season, and beds can be found for € 20-30 per night.
[edit] Food and wine
Given its location on the Mediterranean, seafood is plentiful in the local cuisine. Anchovies of Monterosso are a local specialty designated with a Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union. The mountainsides of the Cinque Terre are heavily terraced and are used to cultivate grapes and olives. This area, and the region of Liguria, as a whole, is known for pesto — a sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, salt, olive oil, pine nuts and pecorino cheese. Focaccia is a particularly common local baked product. Farinata is also a typical snack found in bakeries and pizzerias- essentially it is a savoury and crunchy pancake made from a base of chick-pea flour.
The grapes of the Cinque Terre are used to produce two locally made wines. The eponymous Cinque Terre and the Sciachetrà are both made using Bosco, Albarola, and Vermentino grapes. Both wines are produced by the Cooperative Agricoltura di Cinque Terre (“Cinque Terre Agricultural Cooperative”), located between Manarola and Volastra. Other DOC producers are Forlini-Capellini, Walter de Batté, Buranco, Arrigoni.
In addition to wines, other popular local drinks include grappa, a brandy made with the pommace left from winemaking, and limoncello, a sweet liqueur flavored with lemons.
[edit] Other towns near the Cinque Terre
[edit] Gallery
 Monterosso |
 Vernazza |
 Corniglia |
 Manarola |
 Riomaggiore |
[edit] External links
- Cinque Terre National Park
- 5terre.com
- 5terre.nl
- More Info and Photo Galleries
- Consorzio Turistico Cinque Terre
- Guide to the Cinque Terre
- Pictures of the Cinque Terre
- Pictures of Monterosso
- Cinque Terre Hiking Map and Other Travel Resources
- Cinque Terre Hiking Trails, What to Expect
- from Cinque Terre site, Footpath Maps, verbal description of the trails, as well as a simple trail maps for each of the sections linking the towns.
- "Thirty Six Hours in Cinque Terre" NY Times, Travel, August 4, 2007
- Pictures and Videos of the Cinque Terre
