| 5 Terre |
This rugged hilly area is a Natural Park and within it are the famous 5 villages clinging to rocksrising dramatically from the sea. Backed by the hills and surrounded by almost vertical vineyards these villages are seen at their best initially from the sea, as generations of fishermen have seen them.
Many of the houses are painted in different typical Ligurian colours so that the homeward bound sailors could tell from a distance which was theirs.
On the top of the hills a picturesque pathway connects ancient sanctuaries to the wonderful sea villages and between Riomaggiore and Manarola the ‘Lovers Way’ has been cut in the rocks.
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| Rio Maggiore |
is the first village reached from La Spezia. It has been developed vertically and is crossed by steps and stairways which spread out among the houses huddled next to each other.
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| Manarola |
is perched on a steep dark rock jutting into the sea and with its small port guarded by two rocks it
is the second of the Cinque Terre villages. Its origins are even more ancient than those of Riomaggiore as it was founded by the local people, probably from the Roman settlement of Volastra. Behind Manarola lie terraced vineyards with dry stone walls and walking down towards the sea fascinating scenes and panoramas of extraordinary beauty are found. Amongst these the most well-known is the Via dell’Amore (Lovers Way) which joins Manarola to Riomaggiore. Along this short path, cut into the steep rock overlooking the sea, the view on one side is of the green hills and on the other is of the blue spread of the sky and the sea.
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| Corniglia |
| differs from the other villages of the Cinque Terre as it isn’t right beside the sea but sits on top of a rocky promontory about 100 metres high surrounded on three sides by vineyards and terraces with the fourth side descending steeply to the sea. The village is reached by a long brick stairway in 33 sections with a total of 377 steps which is called the “Lardarina”. If preferred there is a road which goes to the village from the station. |
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| Vernazza |
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has retained the atmosphere of an ancient seafaring community far more than any of the other villages of the Cinque Terre. It has a safe easily accessible natural harbour and a maritime tradition stretching back to ancient times. The name Vernazza derives from “Gens Vulnetia”, the name of old an Roman family who owned the freed slaves who founded the village. The village lies along the Vernazzola stream (now covered over) as far as the rocky cliff which prevents the houses from being seen out at sea.
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| Monterosso |
has a much larger medieval centre than the other villages and a modern residential area along the beach and coastline. The village dates back to 643 when it was founded by the local people fleeing towards the coast from the barbaric invasions. The name probably comes from the fact that the ruling family at the time had red hair.
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