5 Things to do in Cinque Terre

Today we're starting a new series that will continue through the summer and will feature five things to do in different Italian cities (for summer travelers!). First up - Cinque Terre.

There are really only two things to do in Cinque Terre: eat and hike. This makes it the perfect destination for the non-sightseer and/or a great stop in the middle of a longer trip, when you need to relax and regroup. Cinque Terre is composed of five towns along the coast of the Ligurian Sea (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare). It's beautiful and relaxing and the food is out of this world.

Here are five things you should do while you're there:

1. Eat anchovies. Cinque Terre is known for its fantastic seafood but especially for anchovies. There are so many different ways to cook and eat them: with garlic, in casseroles, with lemon and olive oil. I thought I didn't like anchovies until I tried them here - I promise, they're completely different when they're so fresh.

2. Try a local wine. There are tons of vineyards in Cinque Terre (surprising, since all of the towns are perched on the tops of cliffs!) and each town makes its own wine. We stayed in Corniglia and loved the wine at Enoteca il Pirun.

3. Go for a hike. Trails connect each of the five towns - some of the main trails have been washed out by floods but there are other, smaller trails that take you up the mountain and then over and down into the next town.

4. Look at the view. Cinque Terre is so relaxing that sometimes there's nothing to do but stare out at the sea. There are great lookout points in each town and many bars/restaurants also have amazing views.

5. Buy pesto. Pesto is a regional specialty of Cinque Terre and makes the perfect souvenir or gift. Eat it on trofie, a short, twisted pasta, also local to that region.

And, here are some pictures from our trip last April, if you'd like to see...

Next up in June: Florence!

Cinque Terre

Part one of our trip (Cinque Terre) is - sadly - over, but we have some great pictures, if you'd like to see...

Cinque Terre (translation: five lands) is made up of five towns along the coast of the Ligurian Sea. It's really popular with tourists who love to hike from town to town, and it's a great spot to take a break from too much sightseeing! We stayed in Corniglia, the middle of the five towns, which is perched on a cliff above the sea.

When we were planning our trip, I was unsure of which town to stay in; many people prefer Vernazza, Riomaggiore is the largest, Monterosso is right on the sea. I read that Corniglia was the hardest to get to (because you have to hike up 385 steps to get into the town!), was the only town that wasn't right on the sea and was quieter than the other four towns - AND that it was for wine lovers - so, of course I booked it. There were vineyards everywhere in the hills and the wine was delicious. And there were fewer tourists. Cinque Terre can get super crowded during the summer and we were even surprised at how crowded it was so early in April - although it was the Easter holiday so that played a big part.

We arrived last Wednesday afternoon and, after a long travel day, we walked down the steps to the old marina - which has since been washed out - and watched the most amazing sunset.

On our first morning, we hiked on the main coastal trail from Corniglia to Vernazza...

...and then from Vernazza to Monterosso, where we sat on the beach and had lunch.

The main coastal trail is relatively easy hiking - although it can get CROWDED because it's very narrow. The next day though, while hiking in the other direction, we got off the beaten path (not by choice; the coastal trail has been washed out in various floods and was closed) which was much harder, more rewarding and even more beautiful.

We ate lunch at a seaside cafe looking down on Manarola before continuing on to the last town (or first, depending on how you're hiking), Riomaggiore.

In Riomaggiore, we rewarded ourselves for hiking to all five towns with some local white wine and amazing views on the terrace of A Pie di Ma.

On our third day, it was pouring - all the lights went out on the main street in Corniglia! - and we were sore from hiking, so we took advantage of the local train which runs frequently between all five towns and went back to Vernazza for lunch and then on to Monterosso for a wine tasting.

We loved poking around the towns, exploring, drinking local wines, gazing out at the sea and trying local dishes: LOTS of fresh seafood, obviously, but anchovies in particular - prepared every way you can imagine! Also pesto, focaccia bread, olives and lemons.

Cinque Terre was a great start to our travel month and we would definitely recommend a few days there if you're passing through the area.

And now...on to Rome!