Cinque Terre in Italy - a complex of five settlements on the Ligurian coast near the town of La Spezia. This place is considered one of the cleanest areas of the Mediterranean. All five villages (communes) are connected by a system of pedestrian paths. Also in the communes you can move on environmentally friendly buses and mini-trains, but the movement on the Cinque Terre on other vehicles is prohibited.
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Unusual landscapes Cinque Terre fascinate with its unusual and bright. In the villages founded in the Middle Ages, due to lack of free space, unique four- and five-story buildings were erected. In addition, the houses are adjacent to the rocks, almost merging with them, which causes a sense of harmoniously organized space.
Monterosso
The largest settlement - Monterosso, in ancient times was a fortress. The site of the village is the Church of St. John the Baptist, built in the 13th century. The bicolour facade of the church attracts everyone's attention. You should visit the Monastery of Capuchin Monastery (XVII century) and the Church of San Antonio del Mesco (XIV century). Of particular interest is the wall of the fortress, once defending the city.
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Vernazza
The most picturesque commune of the Cinque Terre is Vernazza. The first mention of the village can be found in the chronicles of the XI century, as a fortress guarding against the raids of the Saracens. Remains of old buildings have survived to this day: fragments of a wall, a lookout tower and Doria's castle. The contemplation of beautiful streets with houses in a red-yellow color scheme generates a cheerful mood. One of the attractions of Vernazza is the church of Santa Margarita.
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Corniglia
The smallest settlement - Corniglia, is located on a high cliff. The village is surrounded on three sides by terraces, you can climb to Kornilja by a steep staircase consisting of 377 steps or by a gentle road running from the railway line. Despite its tiny size, the town is known for its cultural and historical buildings: the gothic church of St. Peter and the chapel of St. Catherine, located on an ancient square.
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Manarola
According to historians, the most ancient, and according to contemporaries - the quietest town in the Cinque Terre - Manarola. Once the population of the village was engaged in the production of wine and olive oil. Now here you can visit the mill and see the press for pressing the oil.
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Riomaggiore
The southernmost commune of the Cinque Terre - Riomaggiore is located between the hills, which descend to the sea terraces. Each house of the town has two ways: one of them faces the sea, and the second one goes to the next level of the streets. In Riomaggiore there is a church of John the Baptist (XIV century).
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Cinque Terre Park
The complex of Cinque Terre villages has been officially declared a national park. At the end of the 20th century, it was included in the list of the World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The local coast is mostly rocky beaches, but there are several beaches with sand and pebbly cover. Marine fauna and flora in the town are very diverse. It connects all the settlements of the Cinque Terre with the famous Path of Love. The length of the trail is 12 km, and it takes 4 - 5 hours to overcome it with unhurried step. The azure trail is very popular with tourists, as it is possible to admire the beautiful natural scenery from it.
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How to get to Cinque Terre?
The most convenient way to Cinque Terre is by rail from Genoa . The travel time does not exceed two hours. You can take a train to La Spezia by train and then change to a local train that takes 10 minutes to Riomaggiore. In Riomajdor there is a paid lift, which runs from the railway station to the town. Parking for private cars is only available in Monterosso!
