Cinque Terre

Hello from the Italian Riviera. A mountainous region that spans a six mile stretch connecting five traffic-free villages. By and large, there are no cars or museums, just sun, beaches, mountains and more cafes and trattorias than you could dream. All five villages are connected by train making exploration super easy. Life is slower here, feeling as close as you can get to island life without actually being on one.

Beaches are small but packed with human sardines similar to the way sea lions are all borderline lying on top of one another. As the British would say, people’s swim costumes 🤷‍♂️cover what is legally required but nothing more. Each of the five villages are postage stamps within ravines and coves. The houses are vibrantly beautiful reminding me of La Boca in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

We stayed in the smallest of the villages, Vernazza, which stretches approximately one football field, yet is loaded with shops and eateries. All five villages are also connected by hiking trails, which is mostly trail, but also steps and an occasional roadway.

Given the location of the villages, overwhelming the trails follow the coastline, which is spectacular. We hiked two of the villages one day and three the next. It can be tough steep hiking but completely worth it. The trails didn’t have too many people on it given its beauty.

Cinque Terre might be my favorite place we have visited thus far. Oceans, mountains, great food and a laid back atmosphere. The locals sit on chairs in front of their doorway waiting to speak with anyone willing, the Italians gesticulate as if being swarmed by bees and life moves along, as it should, slowly and richly. Italian Alps, here we come.Read more