On day two in Italy, we visited Cinque Terre ("five lands"), a gorgeous area of the Ligurian coastline (Italian Riviera) and a UNESCO world heritage site, about 2 hours from Florence. The location was highly recommended by my medical school friend, Tia, who traveled to Italy last summer. The area is accessible by road, but the best way to traverse the five villages (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterroso) is either by ferry or on foot. We actually only made it to three of the five villages amidst the national park (a big flood in October 2011 made some of the mountain roads impassable) but the scenery was spectacular! The region is well known for foccacia bread, pesto, and limoncino (like limoncello liqueur). MMMMM....
(They say that, on a clear day, you can see Corsica and even the coastline of France!)
Riomaggiore
The Marina
Lovers' Path between Riomaggiore and Manarola
(Kelvin insisted on this picture)
"Locking" hearts together, forever
Manarola
Vernazza (one of the town most devastated by the Oct 25 flood)
We found this sign humorous!
We did stop at another seaside town, Portovenere, on our way back to Florence.
Castle at Portovenere
Lovely day in a lovely country!
1 comment:
Love love love! Cinque Terre is my favorite area of Italy. Heaven! Now, in Florence, a little north of the train station, take Via Sant'Antonino. There is a little square with a cafe I lived above for a couple months one summer. The best pesto in the world is another block up. Then another block or two and there is a restaurant with mushroom risotto you must pack up and bring back for me. Per piacere?
-Robin
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