Cinque Terre

Liguria, or best perhaps better known as the Italian Riviera, is a magnificent crescent coastal stretch in Northern Italy that borders France. Liguria is home to coastal legends such as Portofino, the ancient port of Genoa and the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre and the adjoining National Park on the Ligurian Coast is without doubt picturesque, noted for its beauty and comparable to that of the Amalfi Coast. The five towns: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are along an ancient system of footpaths is still the best way to visit the five villages. Walk up into the mountains and discover the time-stood-still medieval hamlets like Chiesanuova, that cling to the hillsides overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Under a canopy of trees – here old villages, dry-stone walls (muretti), terraced vineyards and the odd church spire conjure painterly magic scented by the warm sea air.