Itinerary -
This is a typical itinerary for this Cinque Terre Hiking Day Trip -
Stop At: Cinque Terre Trails, Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera, Liguria
These ancient trails are rough but manageable. Be prepared for the hiking although the path is open to everyone, remember that the ground can be slippery, uneven, and in places steep and narrow.
The charm of the area is that it is natural and unspoiled, do not expect handrails or safety rails when steps are steep or when the path is close to the cliff edge. Because of the nature of the hike, it is not for small children or anyone with walking difficulties.
Duration: 8 hours
Stop At: Borgo Storico di Riomaggiore, Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera, Liguria
At Riomaggiore, centuries ago, the distinctive tall, colorful houses known as Genovese tower houses arranged in rows connected by alleys, arches, and steps provided a defense against pirates.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Borgo Storico di Manarola, Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera, Liguria
Built-in the valley of the Torrente Groppo, until 1950 the stream which runs through the town was completely uncovered and 11 stone bridges allowed the people to cross from one side to the other.
The castle which protected the town from pirates is now a private home, you can see the garden from the panoramic walk as it is on the rock immediately above the port. Manarola is now famous for its Christmas nativity scene which is the biggest in the world. Figures outlined in thousands of lights cover the hillside.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Borgo Storico di Corniglia, Corniglia, Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera, Liguria
The middle town of the five, Corniglia is the smallest town and sits at 90 meters above sea level. The name derives from the huge spur of rock on which the village sits. The population of about only 200. San Pietro church from the fourteenth century on the site of an eleventh-century chapel is a must-visit.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Vernazza, Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera, Liguria
Vernazza is unique in the Cinque Terre because of the small port that was built allowing ships to land in the protected bay. It was already a fortified village and efficient maritime base in the earliest records available from the eleventh century.
Today there are traces of the military defenses built by the Genovese in the thirteenth century such as traces of the old walls, ramparts, and the lookout tower.
Duration: 1 hour