A few weeks have passed since I came back from Italy and the first place that comes to my mind when I think about this beautiful country, is the Cinque Terre. I felt speechless in front of the beauty of this place.
This National Park is considered one of the most beautiful coastlines in Italy and for good reason.
The chain of mountains seems to merge with the sea and create an amazing scenery. In the middle of this scenery there are five authentic Italian villages built on five different hills. Situated very close to each other, these villages shelter beautiful churches, old buildings and impressive fortresses which the tourists can admire while they are going for a walk in their lovely narrow streets.
The first of them is Riomaggiore, a small old village which hides an amazing landscape, created by the blend between the colorful buildings and the turbulent sea. Walking down the narrow cobblestone streets, you will discover the Parish Church of Saint Giovanni Battista, the Oratory of Saint Maria Assunta, the Oratory of Saint Rocco and the Fortress.
No matter how you decide to spend your time there, you shouldn’t leave Riomaggiore without admiring the most beautiful panorama of the entire village which can be seen from the other side of the cliff. I was so impressed that I could have spent hours admiring this fabulous view.
With this image in my mind, I started off for the second village, which I expected to be as beautiful as the first one. It was a great surprise for me to realize that Manarola is simply breathtaking and even more beautiful than Riomaggiore.
Words are not enough to describe the perfect union between the sea and the high cliffs. The colorful houses of the village of Manarola seem to literally fall from the steep cliff which shelters them. I must confess that Manarola is my favorite village and that I could have spent entire days admiring its beauty.
In case you want to venture in the small streets of this village, you will have the opportunity to visit the Parish Church of Saint Lorenzo, the Bell Tower, the Fortress and the Bulwark.
Corniglia, which is another small and picturesque Italian village, is situated very close to Manarola. I must say that I didn’t have the chance to visit this village, but this is a strong reason to return to this place in the future. When I do, I will have the opportunity to also visit Corniglia and its Fortifications, the Oratory of Saint Caterina and the Parish Church of Saint Pietro.
Vernazza is bigger than the other villages, but it is as lovely. The most beautiful view of Vernazza can be admired from the beach. There is an artificial path made of stones where the tourists can go for a walk and admire the image of the village.
In case you want to taste the beauty of this village even more, you should know that Vernazza shelters the Parish Church of Saint Margherita di Antiochia, the Fortress, the Belforte and the Towers.
Last but not least, Monterosso al Mare is another lovely village blessed with an incredibly beautiful beach with fine sand and crystal blue water. This is the perfect place to go for a swim and relax after admiring all these beautiful villages.
The village is built in the same architectural style and a walk in its narrow streets will give you the chance to visit its main tourist attractions.
The Parish Church of Saint Giovanni Battista, the Capuchins Monastery and the Saint Francesco Church, the Fortress, the Aurora Tower, the Giant and the Montale’s Villa are the most important ones.
To conclude, the Cinque Terre is the perfect place to visit in case you want to live an unforgettable experience on the shores of Italy. This coastline is a real treasure which should be visited by all of us at least once in a lifetime.
