Cinque Terre

Old Mar 26th, 2012, 05:52 AM
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Cinque Terre

Going to be in Santa Marguerita in mid April and I would like to see some of the Cinque Terre. I understand that floods have damgaged Vernazza and it can't be visited, but the other cities are ok.

I have been told to take the train to La Spezia to begin. I would like to walk the 20 minute Love Walk and have lunch at some restaurant. Can anyone give me a suggestion as the best way to do this and see some of the highlights of the Cinque Terre? I need to be back in Santa Marguerita by 5 that evening.
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 06:03 AM
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I have done a day trip to 5 Terre from S M Ligure and walked the whole 7 miles between all the villages - but you can take the train between them all as well - believe Vernazza can still be visited now - you will need to buy a several euro hiking trail pass even if just doing the Amore walk from riomaggiore to the next town. I also did a day trip to 5 Land from Florence recently and visited all five villages by train (bus from Corniglia train station up to this town high above the sea and rail line).
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 06:11 AM
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La Spezia is south of the Cinque Terre. Santa Margherita Ligure is just north of the CT and on the train line to the CT villages. Now you might go to SML via La Spezia. Depends on where you're coming from.

Here's a useful map of the Italian rail system: http://www.railplus.com.au/images/ma...y-rail-map.pdf
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 06:12 AM
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Thank you so much. This is very helpful. I was told to take the train to Riomaggiore and walk to Manarole(Path of Love). But that is all I have been told. After you get to Manarole can you then take the train to Corniglia,Vernazza and finally to Monterosso. I will probably decide once I am there how much of this I can walk and how much to use the train as I had a hip replacement last year. Thanks so much for your great info.
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 06:50 AM
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Yes. You can do the walk from Riomaggiore to Manarola and take the train to the other villages. There is also a ferry. Last Fall we were staying in Riomaggiore, and we walked to Manarola. We had to take the train to Corniglia as the trail was closed ( and this was before the terrible mudslides). You still have to walk up 382 (?) steps from Corniglia's train station. There are landings where you can rest ...the views from up there are worth it. We walked from Corniglia to Vernazza and then took the train to Monterossa, and then took the ferry back to Riomagiore. I think the ferry goes on to La Spezia. It had stops in Vernazza and Manarola as well. I think the ferry is a separate fare from the trails/trains pass, but it was well worth it. So you see, there are options!
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 07:16 AM
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The ferry is an extra cost, but well worth it. The views of the villages are spectacular! Also, the ferry will take you to Portovenere and the train does not. I think an all day ticket is about 20€. I do this every time I'm visiting the Cinque Terre.
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 07:40 AM
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On the other hand, you can't count on the boat. It is dependent on the calmness of the sea. I agree that it is a great ride, just don't count on it.
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 09:37 AM
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The boat trip is delightful--fabulous views of the village you can't get any other way.

Vernazza is taking visitors again. Some hotels and restaurants are now open and many villagers have moved back home.

www.savevernazza.com has the best and most up to date into, including pictures of where they stand on renovations. They sure could use your tourist euros.
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 11:39 AM
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Thanks to all of you for the great advise. All of you seem to have a real passion for Cinque Terre, and I look forward to seeing it for myself.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2012, 06:49 AM
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Sorry to sign on so late in the conversation but I am on the verge of booking the Cinque Terre tour for May 1st (thru Walkabout Florence for $120---we will be in Florence for two weeks beginning April 29). One of our party is skeptical of the claims that the 382 steps can be done by an average able-bodied person. It does sound grueling to all four of us. Isn't that like taking the stairs up a 30-story building? I once walked up 120 steps to the top of the tower at Rock of Cashel and had to wait an hour for my legs to stop quivering. In the photos I've seen the incline appears very gradual---is this true for the entire stretch?
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Old Apr 3rd, 2012, 07:15 AM
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There is also a shuttle bus (I think its free or maybe €1 or so) that runs fairly frequently (maybe every 15 mins).

The steps are not straight up the hill, but go back and forth up the hill and I dont remember them being very steep, but its a long haul hahaha
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Old Apr 3rd, 2012, 08:50 AM
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I don't think I'm above average but I walk up 300 steps just to throw out my garbage in Liguria. I don't hear of tourists being carted away on stretchers in Corniglia, but then again, I don't hear everything.

I don't believe there are minders wielding whips on the steps, so if you would like to pause and rest before continuing, this is an OK thing to do.

In addition, you could just skip that town entirely. Take a boat. Take a train.

Although I do take out my garbage, I like to live on the Italian Riviera because it so relaxing. I don't walk around in the hot sun. I sip a cool drink in the shade in the afternoon (and take out my garbage before 10am.

How about catching a ride with the "walkabout tour" but skipping the "walkabout" -- ? Take a little shuttle bus or elevator to the top, enjoy the views, retired to a bar for a drink. This is closer to the spirit of enjoy a day at the sea in Italy than this energizer-bunny hit-all-the-towns stuff people arrive determined to do no matter what the heat or their physical condition or -- most importantly - their mood.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2012, 08:53 AM
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By the way, I hope that $120 is for all 4 of you, not per person.

You can quite easily take a train from Florence to le Cinque Terre. If you want to walk or hike between the towns you cannot possibly get lost. The trains back to Florence run quite late into the evening, so you cannot get stuck there.

If you go with a group then you need to keep up with the group. Just go on your own. You don't need to hike to see the pretty views.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2012, 09:46 AM
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Agree that it is very easy to do on your own and you don't need to spend that much money on a tour!
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Old Apr 3rd, 2012, 10:47 AM
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Don't I wish. No, it's not for all 4 of us. $120 per person includes bus ride (2 1/2 hrs there, 1 hr 40 min back), guides, lunch, train between Ver.-Corn., boat from Mont.-Riomag., 12 hours in all. Yikes. I'm sure we're capable of doing it on our own --- just been overwhelmed by all the research I've been doing for this trip and was taking a shortcut---pretty expensive one, huh? Didn't bother to find out what we'd pay to do it all separately. Train fare? Boat? Lunch? Entrance to National Park? ETC. Actually, it would be GREAT to not have to sit on a bus for that long haul getting there(will the train be a lot quicker or will it be a slow train?) and to have time to eat between lunch at noon and 8:30 PM---our arrival time back in Florence (no time built in on the tour for a meal before departing ). OK! Give me the low-down on doing it on our own. Train from Florence to . .? You might recognize my name from some other threads over the past 2 months. This is not my first rodeo but it is the first arranged via internet. I'm very new at 21st century tech. Please be gentle with me Zeppole---I already feel dumb enough.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2012, 11:35 AM
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Florence to riomaggiore by train then get your cinque terre card which gives you access to the park and potentially trains if you want. Ad hoc train tickets between the five towns are just ove €1 each.

Price out trains to riomaggiore on trenitalia's site and the cards above here:
http://www.cinqueterre.com/eng/infor...card/#comprare

Lunch can be as pricey or cheap as you want it to be.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2012, 12:37 PM
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Let's put aside cost for a second and talk about what you all want to do.

Do you want to get up early in the morning and take a bus with other people? Would you rather sleep later and get a train by yourselves?

Do you want to pre-pay for this tour and book in advance and go, rain or shine or heat wave, or do you want to decide the night before?

Do you all want to hike?

Do you all want to take a boat ride?

Do you all want to eat a seafood lunch in Liguria or would a picnic or simple sandwich be preferable?

Do you want to see the sunset?

Do you want to back in Florence by dinner?

Do you want have a great feeling of having conquered the heights of le Cinque Terre, or do you want to go to the beautiful seaside, put your feet up, lift a glass of wine and relax in Italy?

In the meantime, free of charge, I will give you a free guided tour of le Cinque Terre. It if five outcroppings of rock with villages perched on them. The people at the top of village historically cultivated wine. The people at the bottom fished anchovies. Now they all make their living hosting tourists. Guided tour over.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2012, 12:43 PM
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By the way, RuthTurpin, if they are giving you a wonderful 4 course lunch with wine, than the $120 per person fee is not unjust. Transport, passes, boat tix and a 4-course lunch, on your own will easily get you close to $100 per person. But the biggest part of that tab will be lunch, so I would want to know the name of the restaurant or what the lunch is, and if your group doesn't like the idea of a fish lunch in the middle of the day, then you will save money going on your own.

In the meantime, practice walking up stairs. You'll need it in anyway in Italy, no matter where you go.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2012, 03:50 PM
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You've given us a lot to think about. I checked the train to both Riomaggiore and Manarola---limited service because it's the holiday. The earliest we can leave Florence is 9:28 AM, first to Pisa, then La Spezia. Travel time is about the same as the bus and cost is 23.10 each way. More research---found out about the "blue card"---one day use of trails and unlimited train service for 5.20. Much more affordable to do it on our own. Tour lunch in Corniglia at "a cliff top restaurant with view of the sea" is seafood or pesto pasta and salad. No big deal. Thanks everyone for ideas and info.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2012, 06:35 PM
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There are two good places for pizza in Vernazza. That's what I have for lunch. Gelato for dessert. 7-8 € Hopefully they will be open in May. I will also be there for a day, not sure the date. I am staying at Santa Margherita from April 29-May 3.
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