The Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre is a district on the northwest coast of Italy which seems to be growing in popularity with international tourism. Will it become the next Chianti? Who knows? At the moment it's still pretty unspoilt, due to its remoteness and difficulty of access.

It's been voted the very top seaside area in all Italy by Legambiente, a major environmentalist organization, for tourist service, clean waters and environmental conservation.

The Cinque Terre (literally the five lands) is a wine-producing area situated in the Liguria region of Italy.
Liguria has two Rivieras: Riviera di Ponente (west of Genoa up to the French border) and Riviera di Levante (east of Genoa).
The Cinque Terre is in the Levante Riviera, between Genoa and Tuscany. It's made up of five small villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare.



In this area, and indeed in many parts of the Liguria region, the steep hills end where the seashore starts. There is not much room left between sea and mountains for agriculture, which is why vineyards are grown on the slopes of the hills, according to a system called a terrazza, arranged in terraces stepping down to the sea.

Cars don't travel very well in and between the tiny villages. For this reason Cinque Terre is much better visited by train.
To find information and the facility to book rail tickets and Passes in Italy, visit Rail Europe . They are the specialists on rail travel in Europe, and you can buy rail point-to-point tickets online for single journeys from one destination to another in Europe.
You can travel in the Cinque Terre area by car on the highway, which runs high along the coast following the ancient Roman road Via Aurelia and is free, or on the Genova-Livorno motorway A12, for which you have to pay a toll. The scenery from either is spectacular, affording amazing views over the Ligurian Riviera from the heights of viaducts in and out of road tunnels. The A12 autostrada Genova-Livorno has been called, not without justification, the most beautiful motorway in the world. From the road you can see the Cinque Terre and the Bay of La Spezia from above. But you'll have problems when you actually want to climb down to a village on the sea. Usually you have to park outside the village and walk.
Another way to access the villages, of course, is by boat. There are regular boat services in the summer from Viareggio, a seaside resort in Versilia, just north of Pisa. The boat also stops in another beautiful village of the area, Portovenere.

It's possible to enjoy very beautiful walks between the villages. Panoramic footpaths have been selected and are managed by the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), the association responsible for Italian mountain paths.
The villages are minuscule and extremely picturesque, and they've preserved their old-world character.
The rare and endangered species of flora and fauna of the Cinque Terre are protected in a Nature and Marine National Park, which covers the entire area up to Portovenere.
Notwithstanding its seclusion, the Cinque Terre is close to places which attract many tourists, like Portofino and Rapallo.
At the extreme south end of the Cinque Terre coast there's another interesting place to visit, the ancient fortified town of Portovenere. With its narrow alleyways and pastel-coloured harbour cottages it's not less picturesque than the "five lands" themselves. In Portovenere are important Roman ruins, including a Roman villa. In front of it is the island Palmaria. On the other side of the Bay of La Spezia is Lerici, with its castle looking down from the top of a cliff onto the Bay of Poets, where Byron and Shelley lived. At the north end, Levanto is also considered part of the district, a kind of sixth Cinque Terre.

Royal Sporting Hotel is the height of luxury, a prestigious four stars hotel in Portovenere recommended by the Baedeker and other guidebooks of Italy. Portovenere is a medieval sea village at the gateway to the Cinque Terre. This enchanting and naturally beautiful town dates back to the Roman era. The lovely view admired from the Church of San Pietro, located at the edge of the cliff, inspired great poets such as Shelley and Byron, who lived here and after whom the bay is named Bay of Poets (Golfo dei Poeti).

In this splendid environment is the Hotel Royal Sporting, directly overlooking the sea, in a quiet position only 10 minutes' walk from the historical center of Portovenere.
The Royal Sporting Hotel not only affords a holiday just by the clear sea waters of the bay, but is also close to the great art cities and towns of Tuscany: Florence is only about 120 kilometers away (75 miles), Pisa 70 kilometers and Lucca 60 kilometers.
The hotel offers its guests an outdoor swimming pool with purified sea water, with an ample solarium terrace, sun-lounge chairs and beach towels included in the service, and it offers direct access to its seafront private beach.
A small boat with sailor can be rented for excursions.
Breakfast can be served on the terrace at the edge of the swimming pool.
The hotel has a tennis court, a garden, ideal for reading and relaxing, a large hall, a bar, a restaurant, a conference hall. An Internet point is available on request.
All 60 rooms have en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, satellite TV, mini bar, direct-dial telephone.
Some rooms have terraces or balconies overlooking the breathtaking Bay of Poets, others have the relaxing view of the hotel's garden and tennis court.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given the Royal Sporting high ratings on all aspects of their stay. This is a summary of guests' reviews:
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Royal Sporting in Portovenere. The people were fantastic. It was clean, located well and a great place to stay. A beautiful hotel. Excellent service, and good food, in the restaurant. I've already recommended this hotel to several friends. Thanks for helping make my trip an unforgettable experience.

Prices are per room, and they include breakfast, half board or full board, according to your choice.
General price range
Single rooms: 70 - 180 euros
Double rooms: 140 - 290 euros

First website: Royal Sporting Hotel in Portovenere

Second website: Royal Sporting Hotel in Portovenere

Hotel Della Baia is a three stars hotel in Le Grazie, an ancient village which is part of Portovenere, 7 km. from the major town of La Spezia.
The hotel, set in its own bay, an oasis of quietness, palms and boats, has a swimming pool, and free parking spaces.
Rooms are comfortable and elegant, each has its own style, enriched by paintings by famous artists.
All rooms have en-suite bathroom, air conditioning unit, PC and Internet jack, satellite TV, telephone, minibar, and disabled access.
Some rooms have hydromassage bath, some have large terraces with a panoramic view.

Prices are per room, and they include breakfast, half board or full board.
General price range
Single rooms: 70 - 130 euros
Double & twin rooms: 130 - 220 euros
Triple & quadruple rooms: 250 - 370 euros

Website: Hotel Della Baia in Le Grazie, Portovenere

Hotel Florida is a comfortable three stars hotel in Lerici, overlooking a beach on the Golfo dei Poeti (Bay of Poets), so called because Byron and Shelley lived here for a long time.
The Hotel Florida is directly overlooking the beach and commands an all-round view of the bay in all its splendour, with the Lerici Castle at one end.
The hotel has a solarium on the 5th floor.
All 37 well-furnished rooms have balcony, air conditioning, en-suite bathroom with hair-dryer, telephone (direct dialling), satellite TV and minibar.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this property very high ratings on all aspects of their stay. A guest's review: "The property was very well located on the edge of the busier part of Lerici. The staff was very attentive and helpful often going out of their way to provide explanations and suggestions. A great place."

General price range per room
Single & double rooms: 80 - 130 euros
Triple rooms: 160 euros

Website: Hotel Florida in Lerici

Hotel Byron is a three stars hotel in Lerici right on the sea, in front of a beach, commanding a wonderful view of the Bay of Poets.
Open all year round, the hotel's facilities include a restaurant and a lift.
Rooms have en-suite bathroom, telephone, TV and minibar.
Sometimes, in the busiest periods, minimu stay is 3 nights.

General price range per room: 70 - 130 euros

Website: Byron Hotel in Lerici

Shelley & Delle Palme Hotel is a three stars hotel in Lerici.

Website: Shelley & Delle Palme Hotel in Lerici

Hotel Stella Maris (literally meaning Star of the Sea in Latin) is a prestigious three stars hotel in the centre of Levanto, recommended by many popular guidebooks, including Karen Brown's, Fodor's, and Michelin.
It's in an ancient palace in the heart of Levanto, Palazzo Vannoni.
Frescoed ceilings, antique furniture, immaculate lace curtains will satisfy the aesthetic requirements of the most demanding guests, without depriving them of any modern comforts.
In fact, despite the grand location, the hotel has a homely, warm, pampering atmosphere, where the stress of everyday life can easily be left behind.
The restaurant also caters for vegetarians.
All rooms have en-suite bathroom, hydromassage bath, telephone, safe, minibar, hairdryer, and satellite colour TV.
Some rooms have air conditioning unit.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have consistently given this hotel high ratings on all aspects of their stay except noise level in rooms, and welcoming received the highest possible rating. A guest's review: "You will miss a lot if you don't have lunch on the roof terrace. The location of the hotel is just great: close to a bus stop in the Portofino direction (takes only 25 minutes to get to it)."

Minimum stay is 3 nights.

General price range per room, including half board
Single rooms Half Board: 100 euros
Double rooms Half Board: 200 euros
Triple rooms Half Board: 300 euros
Quadruple rooms Half Board: 350 euros

Website: Hotel Stella Maris in Levanto

To find and book accommodation in Cinque Terre and the rest of Italy,, the cheapest and least time-consuming way is by doing it via the internet.
Here below are some of the best online reservations services with hotels & other accommodation in Cinque Terre and Italy, which often have arranged special rates and discounts.

Venere
Venere - Hotels in Italy

Italian Tourist Web Guide
Italian Tourist Web Guide

North American residents can find information and the facility to book rail tickets and Passes in Italy when they visit Rail Europe .
They are the specialists on rail travel in Europe, and you can both buy rail point-to-point tickets online for single journeys from one destination to another in Italy and Europe, and buy Italian and European Rail Passes online.
On Rail Europe you'll also find plenty of information about timetables, prices and other practicalities of Italian and European rail services:
Rail Europe

Expedia is a comprehensive travel site for all sorts of needs, from flights to hotels, from car rentals to holiday packages, from holiday deals to guides and insurance.
Expedia