Cinque Terre Reservation on-line
Prices from € 25 per person per night special discount for groups( of min. 5 people)
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In National Park of Cinque Terre we offer a wide range of apartments or rooms for short
and long term to rent throughout the year. Our service includes full assistance before and during your stay. Send us your requests, specifying the town where you want stay in the Cinque Terre area (Monterosso al mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore) the time of year, the total number of people sharing the same apartment, the position of the room or flat wich you like (hills, towns, in land) and the daily budget for one people. Actually we have apartment in all town of cinque terre, but we don't show all apartments and rooms for privacy reasons, but privatly we can send pics and descriptions about own flats, you have only to describe your request and we'll provide to give you all informations. One of the most spectacular stretches of Ligurian coastline is located just a half hour south of Genoa. Part of a National Park and recently declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Cinque Terre (“Five Lands”) is a relatively unspoilt area of land stretching for 7 kms along the coast from Monterosso in the north to Riomaggiore in the south. Lush green terraces of olive and lemon trees fall steeply to a turquoise sea, and brightly coloured villages cling to rocky cliff sides. The Cinque Terre’s unspoilt nature is due to the fact that for centuries it remained virtually cut off from the rest of Italy, reached only by sea or overland along dirt mule tracks. In the 1920s a train line was built connecting the 5 towns to Genoa and La Spezia, but roads remain tortuous, discouraging the development which has ruined so much of Italy’s coastline. The best way to visit the Cinque Terre is to hike along the Sentiero Azzurro (Turquoise Trail) which follows the coast through rock terraces of olive and lemon groves and vineyards. While it can be covered in 5 hours at a steady pace, parts of it can be quite challenging as it makes it way up steep hillsides, with seemingly endless flights of steps carved into the rock. If you want to take your time, stopping to admire the views and exploring the towns along the way, plan on spending a couple of days. During the summer months the trail can become quite crowded and the best time for hiking is late spring or early fall when the sun is less hot. The spring vegetation is lush and green with a myriad of flowering bushes and trees, and in the autumn lemons and olives are ripening on the trees and grapes hang heavy on the vines. Finding accommodation can be difficult at the best of times so if you plan on staying overnight, its a good idea to book ahead. In a pinch you can always try asking in shops and restaurants along the way as most locals have relatives, friends or neighbours who have extra rooms to rent for a night or two. While the trail officially begins in the town of Monterosso, the least attractive and most developed of the Cinque Terre (a huge parking lot dominates the shoreline), the most beautiful part of the coastal trail begins in Levanto, 2 kms to the north. After stocking up on some of the excellent Genovese "focaccia" (special bread) and pizza which can be found in its bakeries, climb up to the castle from where the trails begins. After meandering past villas and the occasional farmhouse, it crosses a wide variety of different landscapes: green terraces which slope down to the sea, rocky terrain with sparse Mediterranean vegetation, and towering pine forests. A spectacular view of the entire Cinque Terre coastline can be had before beginning the decent into Monterosso. While in Monterosso, take advantage of the area’s only real beach to cool off and relax before continuing the journey. The hike between Monterosso and the next town, Vernazza, takes about two hours and is perhaps the most difficult, climbing steeply up through cultivated terraces. As you stop to catch your breath (pretending that it’s really the view you’re interested in!), you’ll likely be passed by sprightly British and German seniors, and have time to marvel at the Italian women who manage the trail in leather shoes with heels. At times the path narrows to less than a metre with the mountain on one side and a sharp drop off to the other, and the most intricate contortions are necessary in order to pass hikers coming the opposite way. Vernazza is the most beautiful of the towns, built on a rocky outcropping surrounding a natural bay: pastel-coloured houses, a labyrinth of narrow alleyways and steep flights of stone steps. The main square by the sea is congested with brightly coloured fishing boats and nets and lively outdoor restaurants and cafés. An hour and a half later, you arrive in Corniglia, situated on a rocky promontory 200m above the sea. The most difficult part of the trail is now over and after descending almost to sea level, the path runs fairly smoothly until Manarola. The last stretch of the trail from Manarola to Riomaggiore is the most famous, but apart from spectacular views of the sea, the ugliest. Known as the “Via dell’Amore”, it takes just a half hour along a paved walkway surrounded by concrete walls and metal nets designed to prevent rock slides. The walls are covered with graffiti left by strolling lovers: “Gianni loves Maria” and “Monica, I’ll love you forever”. At the end, however, you’re rewarded with a spectacular natural harbour surrounded by towering houses climbing up the rock cliffs – an ideal place to watch the sunset after a hard day’s work! HOW TO GET TO CINQUE TERRE The Cinque Terre can be reached by TRAIN. For further information on timetables and rail connections visit the Ferrovie dello Stato site. During the summer there is a daily boat service, which allows you to view and admire the whole of the Cinque Terre coastline and other places nearby. For further information on timetables and connections visit the Navigazione del Golfo dei Poeti (The Golfo dei Poeti shipping-line service) site. By CAR, the "Litoranea" (coast road) takes you to Riomaggiore and Manarola and, through Volastra, to Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. To reach Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, it is advisable to take the a12 highway Genoa-Livorno coming off at the exit for Carrodano-Levanto. Then take the SS1 and follow the directions for Monterosso. The nearest AIRPORTS are the international airport C.Colombo in Genoa and the international airport Galileo Galilei in Pisa. |
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