scrb11

Here's some more info about the Sanctuaries:

http://www.cinqueterre.it/en/content/la-dei-santuari

http://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/cin.../hiking-trails

Generally, they existed before the CT villages. They settled the high villages like Volastra before they moved down closer to the water, because they used the high position for defensive position against coastal raiders.

I went on a guided hike taking the bus from Riomaggiore (actually a bit of a hike uphill from the train station) and the bus went up to a point called Telegrafo. From there we hiked downwards and reached the Santuario de Montero, which had panoramic views both NW and SE.

It is difficult to hike there. Even hiking down can be difficult because you have to navigate some rocky terrain which isn't level and take some steep steps down, which really can challenge your knees.

Maybe there's a way to reach nearby villages up there, like Bivio and Volastra, by car. Some of the CT villages have parking garages near the road that runs over them and supposedly you can take a bus down from the garages. But the buses don't run that frequently and it would take longer than taking the trains.

In Monterosso, when you exit the train station, you would turn left and walk SE to get to the old town, which is where most of the hotels and restaurants are, as well as the port where the ferry boards.

If you turn right and walk NW, there is a newer part of town which appears more residential, apart from the beaches. There is a section there with little amusement park rides for the children. From there, you can see almost all the CT villages line up if there isn't a hazy marine layer.

If you go to the old town, you won't see down the coast because the beach in front of the old town and the port is in a cove so you can't see down the coast line.

For Portovenere, this page shows options for getting there including by ferry:

https://portovenere.a-turist.com/how_to_arrive

It has a section on the Three Island Trip which are for Palmaria. The pricing info is probably outdated though, it's more than €20 for the general ticket now.

This site has some more useful info. on Portofino and Portovenere:

http://www.apathtolunch.com/2013/01/...rtovenere.html

sandralist

If you enjoy photographing seascapes and have a car in Rapallo, consider driving to Zoagli instead of Portofino. There is a parking garage at sea level. There is a special dedicated pathway for strolling right on the seaside, flat with just a few stairs here and there. These are some of the most lovely views on the coast, with especially dramatic views later in the day:

http://www.teleradiopace.tv/wp-conte...ata-zoagli.jpg

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1lFiloZR0NQ/maxresdefault.jpg

http://www.webimmobiliare.com/foto/2...453860/001.jpg

http://images.placesonline.com/photo...gli_zoagli.jpg

sandralist

Also, if you like sanctuaries, you can take the 7-minute cable car ride from Rapallo center up to Monteallegro, which is the high mountain summit sanctuary made of white marble overlooking Rapallo. The entry to the cable car is about a 10 minute flat walk from the train station (in the direction of the hills, not the seafront).

http://www.comune.rapallo.ge.it/pagi...ntallegro.html

http://www.wanderingitaly.com/video/...m#.Vbp8Ytwdu2w

susnobie

HI scrib11,
Thanks for the info on the sanctuaries. They sound interesting but I think they are more hiking that we will be doing.

Portovenere is looking better with each added bit of information.

susnobie

Hello again sandralist,
You have been a wealth of information. Added Zoagli and the cable car at Rapallo to the list of possibles. If we keep adding to the list may have to add a day.