Can someone give me an overview of Cinque Terra ?
Aug 7th, 2006, 01:03 PM
#1
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Can someone give me an overview of Cinque Terra ?
My interest has been peaked by all the great comments and trip reports here. I don't know anything else about CT. and would like an overview. We are planning our next trip to Italy and want to explore new areas. We have been to Rome, Venice, Positano and Bellagio. Is the Cinque Terre area similar to the Amalfi Coast? If not, what are the differences? How many days are needed to explore this area, and can we stay in one area to explore the rest? Would a car be necessary? Thanks everybody!
Aug 7th, 2006, 01:08 PM
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I havent been, but found a good web site with lots of info.http://www.cinqueterre.it/en/index.asp
Aug 7th, 2006, 02:55 PM
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Depending on the time of year and size of crowds, CT can be a bit crowded or a piece of hevean on earth. I was fortunate when I was there on a Sunday-Tuesday in early May (people said that the Friday-Saturday was jam packed). I've heard it can also get over-crowded in Summer. I think that would really detract from the magic of the experience.
The Amalfi is a somewhat higher-class area, known to tourists for decades. CT is more rural and only became popular the last decade or so. There's little in the way of high-end restaurants, but there is good food, nice cafes, beautiful views and fun hikes.
I think the area deserves at least a couple nights and days, but doesn't need more than 3 nights/4 days. Although if one likes relaxing, you could enjoy a couple weeks there just hanging out.
I stayed in Vernazza and loved spending the morning hiking and the afternoons reading in a cafe, watching the sun go down and listening to the surf below.
A car is not only NOT necessary, it's a hindrance. There's little to no parking except on the town outskirts. Besides hiking from town to town, there's an easy 'milk-train' that stops in all 5 villages. You can even take boat ferries between them.
You can easily stay in one town and visit the others. Unless you're going to stay for a long time, I'd advice staying in one village.
The Amalfi is a somewhat higher-class area, known to tourists for decades. CT is more rural and only became popular the last decade or so. There's little in the way of high-end restaurants, but there is good food, nice cafes, beautiful views and fun hikes.
I think the area deserves at least a couple nights and days, but doesn't need more than 3 nights/4 days. Although if one likes relaxing, you could enjoy a couple weeks there just hanging out.
I stayed in Vernazza and loved spending the morning hiking and the afternoons reading in a cafe, watching the sun go down and listening to the surf below.
A car is not only NOT necessary, it's a hindrance. There's little to no parking except on the town outskirts. Besides hiking from town to town, there's an easy 'milk-train' that stops in all 5 villages. You can even take boat ferries between them.
You can easily stay in one town and visit the others. Unless you're going to stay for a long time, I'd advice staying in one village.
Aug 7th, 2006, 02:59 PM
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BTW, the view shown as "La piccola spiaggia di Vernazza" is on the trail heading North out of Vernazza on the way to Monterosso. That view's perhaps 20 minutes into the hike, if I recall. I took some of my favorite travel photos in Vernazza, including shots like that.
Aug 8th, 2006, 08:16 AM
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Search Cinque Terre on this forum and you will find lots of informatin. I posted a thread awhile ago that has lots of information on the hikes themselves. We stayed at Santa Margherita Ligure, which I highly recommend as a base. It's a nice small to mid-sized harbor town, with easy access to the Cinque Terre, and also to Portofino and other places on the Ligurian coast. What time of year? We did the Cinque Terre in early May, and it was plenty hot. Wouldn't want to be there in August!
Aug 8th, 2006, 02:35 PM
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It's Cinque Terre (means 5 lands/earth in Italian). Since you have never been there, it might be a nice place to include on your next trip itinerary. It is similar to northern California in its ruggy terrain, rocky beaches, tree covered slopes, etc but with a Mediterranea clime. No, there are bigger (sandier) beaches further down on the Amalfi Coast compared to the CT beaches. You can visit all 5 towns in 1 day, but allowing maybe 3 days/2 nights total to see everything should be more than enough time. Cars are not necessary, you can take a train from Genoa La Spezia, Rome, or wherever you are in Italy and then transfer to a local, 5 digit train to get into one of the towns. Vernazza has been over-popularized by Rick Steves and indeed, has the loveliest harbor area of the towns. Monterosso is the largest town in terms of area and population so you will find more hotel options there than in the other towns. Riomaggiore has several hotel options as well.
Specialties specific to the region are: pesto, focaccia, trofie pasta, fried seafood platters, polenta (New Years Eve special dish), etc.
IMO, the best time to travel there and avoid the masses is Fall (end Sept/October) and in the Spring (March/April/May) before it gets too hot in June.
Specialties specific to the region are: pesto, focaccia, trofie pasta, fried seafood platters, polenta (New Years Eve special dish), etc.
IMO, the best time to travel there and avoid the masses is Fall (end Sept/October) and in the Spring (March/April/May) before it gets too hot in June.
Aug 8th, 2006, 04:19 PM
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see also this thread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34850168
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34850168
Aug 8th, 2006, 04:29 PM
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If you dislike crowds of tourists, CT can be a major annoyance.
If you are looking for high-end shopping, go to Portofino or Rappallo instead.
If you hate high-end shopping and merely want to relax in a heavenly atmosphere with heavenly good, try Camogli or Lerici.
If you are looking for high-end shopping, go to Portofino or Rappallo instead.
If you hate high-end shopping and merely want to relax in a heavenly atmosphere with heavenly good, try Camogli or Lerici.
Aug 9th, 2006, 05:45 AM
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We will be staying in Corniglia for 4 nights at the end of Sept.
Does anyone know if there is actually little wine stores out of peoples homes in the CT or have I been watching too much RS? Where could I buy other local products such as Pesto?
Does anyone know if there is actually little wine stores out of peoples homes in the CT or have I been watching too much RS? Where could I buy other local products such as Pesto?
Aug 9th, 2006, 06:26 AM
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If one wants museums, night life, etc. then 4 nights in Corniglia would certainly be boring. If instead you like to hike around in the morning and relax in the afternoons, perhaps reading a book while looking at the ocean, then 4 nights there could be quite rejuvinating. 3 seems like the magic number for me, but I wouldn't cry if I had an extra day of "dolce far niente".
Aug 9th, 2006, 11:35 AM
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I would not stay in Corniglia for 4 nights. At least pick another town. Corniglia is high up and rather cumbersome to access. It is not as lively or fun as the other places. Maybe consider Riomaggiore, Vernazza, or Monterosso instead?
Aug 9th, 2006, 01:00 PM
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Huitres,
we are staying here in the sole/luna apt.
http://www.cinqueterre-laposada.com/...partments.html
I hear the access from the train station to the town is steep. Is there any carts that go up and down ?
Thanks
we are staying here in the sole/luna apt.
http://www.cinqueterre-laposada.com/...partments.html
I hear the access from the train station to the town is steep. Is there any carts that go up and down ?
Thanks
