We were staying with our friends in Camiore when she asked us our itinerary. Not really having one she suggested we visit Cinque Terre. It was only 30 minutes north, about an hour north of Pisa. We figured why not. The Giro was going through there a few days after our visit so it made it all the more enjoyable to see. A little history: Cinque Terre is actually five small cities (thus Cinque Terre) on the coast of the Mediterranean. They are linked by the water and a walking path. However, now I believe there is a train system.
It is one of the most beautiful spots I've ever visited and well worth the trip. Even Lance Armstrong's twitter feed after the stage mentioned it is a must see in Italy.
After driving through La Spezia we wound our way up the coast line. Of course Italian drivers are crazy and the roads were a second thought after the invention of the automobile. We stopped at the second city. Found parking in a pay for park lot (very reasonably priced however). It was a downhill walk into the city. I watched a man deliver his packages to a house or his house in an interesting way. Since the cities are on the rocky coast they are of course hilly with lots of stairs. His device had tracks. It appeared to make his job easier since the tracks could handle the hills and the stairs with ease. Think of a wheelbarrow on tracks that was self propelled.
The residents obviously take great pride in their city. Each house had flowers in full bloom and beautiful gardens. Signs all over the city expressed the residents desire to keep the city clean using recycling and trash bins. It made for a great walk.
The city itself wasn't too big but the view was outstanding. The water was crystal blue as far as the eye could see. It was just amazing. The gelato was excellent as well. There are plenty of places to sit and rest while enjoying the view.
Good hiking shoes and appropriate clothing is a necessity if you plan to hike between the towns. The trails are well groomed and well used. A lot of visitors were hiking back and forth from the different cities. The train was operating but I didn't get a chance to check it out. It appeared most people walked from city to city stopping for lunch and snacks along the way.
Take a lot of water. Or better yet bring your swim suit for a quick dip in the sea. If you're not a good swimmer you might want to skip this as it appeared to be rather deep.
We only managed one city because we our had small kids in tow and they wanted to go swimming back at our villa. However, this is a place we must return to and explore each city. If you haven't been here on your visit to Italy you're missing a real gem!
