Cinque Terre - Vernazza
 

I have found a hotel taking reservations in Verazza for July. I know they were hit hard with the flood last year and was not sure if we should stay in that town. The hotel is Hotel Gianni Franzi.

Any suggestions?

May be wishful thinking on their part--maybe not!
Too iffy for me.

Was in Cinque Terre last week. Only Path 1 (between Riomaggiore and Manarola) was open and no work appeared to be in progress on the other sections I saw. I would look for somewhere else to stay.

This is inaccurate. There are several other paths open in the Cinque Terre, as they are many besides the main walk between the towns, that are just as beautiful and some that are easier, some more challenging.

The trail opening information is available through Rebuild Monterosso, here:
http://www.rebuildmonterosso.com/p/v...formation.html

Info on Vernazza's openings can be found on the savevernazza.com site as well.

I was referring to Paths 2, 3 and 4 between the five towns. Some of the other higher paths are open.

While Vernazza still needs to mid-spring before it can host tourists, the rest of the 5 Terre is open now! Here is more information:
http://culturalcomments.blogspot.com...e-is-open.html

OK just as a recap, if we want to hike through the 5 towns... can it be done? any recommendations on what town to stay in for those of you that just visited? any info on train schedules? have an early morning departure out of La Spezia. Dont really want to stay there, but need to be there before 0630 in the morning.. will we make it? Do the trains start before then into La Spezia?

thanks in advance for any info!!

Diana, WHEN will you be in the Cinque Terre? If you will be there next week, you almost certainly won't be able to hike all the way from Riomaggiore to Monterosso. In August or September? More likely at least one more path will be open.

Even last September BEFORE the floods you couldn't hike (without a long detour) all the way from Riomaggiore to Monterosso, because the path from Manarola to Corniglia was closed. The trails can be closed at various times due to weather issues besides just the flooding.

As noted above, there are other hiking trails in the area besides the "classic" hike directly between all five towns, and you can easily take the regional train between all five towns + Levanto and La Spezia. I'd hope that at least one of the major trails on the "classic" route (between Corngilia and Vernazza or Vernazza to Monterosso) would be open, though for your visit. Cross your fingers. It's a beautiful area, hope they recover sooner rather than later!!

Even if you can't hike "the classic route" between all five, you can take the train or in some cases the ferry for some of the segments, and there are also some higher-up trails.

Thank you both, we will be there the first week of May and I was really looking forward to a good hike!