The Cinque Terre, the five villages on the Ligurian coast in western Italy, is a hikers paradise. The five villages of the Cinque Terre are linked together by a series of hiking trails all. The main trails range from very easy to very difficult. Additional hiking trails veer off from the main trails wandering up steep hills and through vineyards. The villages, trails and beaches are all beautiful, not just a hikers paradise but a photographers as well.

All of the main trails offer spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. With the exception of the trail linking Vernazza and Corneglia which leads away from the water the paths take you along cliffs high above the Sea.On a sunny day the colors are mesmerizing

On the trail from Monterossa al Mare to Vernazza you will hike through vineyards, over stone walls and along the Mediterranean Sea. The trails that run from Monterossa to Vernazza and Vernazza to Corniglia are the most difficult of the four trails. You will need a light weight hiking boot or hiking tennis shoe to make the trip comfortably. There are few handrails and the trail can be narrow in places so you need to bring a walking stick if you have balance problems. If you do not feel that you can walk the whole trail you can walk part of it and enjoy the view. You may encounter bees, bugs and birds so be prepared with an antihistamine (like Benadryl), bug spray and your binoculars.

Riomaggiore is one of the five villages of the Cinque Terre located on the Ligurian coast of Italy. It is one of the most colorful and beautiful villages in all of Italy. Bright houses teeter on the side of a hill overlooking the blue-green waters of the Gulf of Genova.

Riomaggiore is the last village as you approach from the north. If you are coming from La Spezia it will be the first village you come to. The five villages of the Cinque Terre are linked by a hiking trail of varying degrees of difficulty. The trail linking Riomaggiore and Manarola is by far the easiest of the five trails. In fact, the trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola is not a trail at all but a wide cobblestone walkway known as the Via dell'Amore (Love's Way). There are benches along the Via dell’Amore where you can sit and enjoy the view, this is not the case on the trails linking the other villages. Via dell’Amore is a little over .5 mi (approximately 1 km) long.

Riomaggiore dates from the early 13th century which probably explains the network of alleyways and staircases. If you plan to stay in Riomaggiore plan to walk up some steps. When you are making a reservation most apartments will let you know the number of steps you have to walk up to get to your unit. If they don't, be sure to ask, they can number in the hundreds.

Not a hiker? Not to worry, you can still enjoy the beautiful views of the Cinque Terre by taking the ferry that runs between four of the five villages.

A ferry funs between four of the five villages of the Cinque Terre in Italy starting at Easter and running through October or later if the weather is warm and dry. The boat runs frequently between Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore and less frequently to Portovenere. The ferry does not stop at Corniglia since this is the only village without water access. At certain times of the year and week a boat also runs to Portofino.

Schedules are posted at various points around the villages and information can be obtained at the information offices located near the train stations in each of the villages of the Cinque Terre.

The Cinque Terre is made up of 5 villages linked together by hiking trails. The villages are located on the Ligurian coast of Italy between Levanto to the north and La Spezia to the south. The Cinque Terre is a National park and a UNESCO World heritage site. The five villages are: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

Although Corniglia is thought to date from Roman times, it is believed the other villages came into their own during Medieval times. The local economy continues to be based on fish and wine, though tourism now plays an important role. There are a number of historic sites including churches that are open to visitors in each of the villages.

There are five villages in the Cinque Terre, Italy. Each village has its own charm.

Monterosso al Mare is the first village you will visit if you are approaching the Cinque Terre from the north. Monterosso is the largest and most commercial of the five villages. It is also the most easily accessible and has the most hotels. The town is divided into two parts by an old railroad tunnel. The old center of town with a number of stores and restaurants is on one side, the beach at Fegina is on the other side. There is a sandy beach in Monterosso where it is free to swim and sunbathe. Visit Il Gigante a statue of a giant near Fegina. It is a 5 minute walk from the beach at Fegina.

Vernazza is the first village you will come to after Monterosso and it is the only one with its own harbor. Many people consider Vernazza to be the most picturesque village though each village is unique and beautiful in its own way. In Vernazza there are narrow alley's that you can wander and many window shopping opportunities to be enjoyed. You can sit in one of the cafe's around the harbor and look out to Sea or up into the vineyards.