Need Advice - Is Cinque Terre back to normal?
 

I am traveling to Italy in May and really wanted to visit the Cinque Terre area. I understand that there was a flood there that ruined the towns. Can anyone tell me if Cinque Terre is back to normal and worth traveling to now?

Also, I have heard what a nightmare renting a car is in Italy. Our first stay is in Venice for a week. Here is where I get troubled. Should I go to Genoa, rent a car and then travel down to Florence by way of Cinque Terre? I am not in a hurry and we have three weeks in Italy. We want to end up in Pisa to fly back to London. Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you couldn't do without seeing and what you wouldn't do next time.
Montedec

Only 2 towns were affected much at all---Vernazza and Monterosso---and they were devastated. I suspect that MOnterosso may be OK by May, but Vernazza is another question.

I would drive from Venice---get the car at Piazzale Roma---and stay in Portovenere. Why the nightmare---it is only if you drive in the cities. Have fun !

"back to normal" - does that mean elbow to elbow with tourists everywhere in these very small compact towns?

I hate to refer people to another website, but the Rick Steves' site has links with current (and continuing) updates on the progress of Vernazza and Monterosso's recoveries. Bob is right - Monterosso appears to be getting through the process faster, but Vernazza was badly damaged -- places like restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, etc. The harbor and beach areas there are one and the same, and the steep road(s) that go through town, making up the main street, were covered in mud that totally filled the first stories of buildings.

I've been checking fairly often, as we visited Cinque Terre about 3 weeks before it happened, and had a wonderful lunch in the large piazza overlooking Vernazza's beach/harbor area.

But, my husband says "the Italians have always been famous for building" so we expect they will come back from this disaster.

Monterosso and Vernazza both are opening this season and by May you will be more then fine. Two organizations, Save Vernazza and Rebuild Monterosso, run by American ex-pats living there, have put up updates on re-opening dates for accommodations, restaurants, bars and so forth in the towns, as well as information regarding the hiking trails. Monterosso is more or less opening everything up in mid-March to Easter, and has many things open now. Vernazza is more or less the same, just a little later, like early May. Your husband is right on, uhohbusted, and the work has been incredible. So much has been done. I won't say it's totally "back to normal", but it's getting close.

You can check reopening lists, updates, and pictures out at:
http://www.rebuildmonterosso.com/p/v...formation.html

and savevernazza.com

Paths 2, 3 and 4 were closed last week with no signs of reinstatement as yet. The higher paths are open, and Riomaggiore and Manarola are fine, I didn't see the other towns.