Cinque Terre Tours – Day Trips to Cinque Terre, Italy

Let us take you on a breathtakingly beautiful exploration of Cinque Terre, east along the Tuscan coastline with its lovely view of the Mediterranean Sea. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel or central meeting point. Now you begin your trip to the quaint and distinctive fishing villages of Monte Rosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Rio Maggiore, and Manarola from the north to the south.

Literally meaning 'Five Lands', the Cinque Terra comprises five little island villages which are built into the rocks between the beach and the hills and offer panoramic views of the crystal clear Mediterranean Sea along the Liguarian coastline. Up until the 1960’s they were only reachable by boat but now there is a rail line that connects all the five villages. These untouched fishing villages stand like antique jewels on the beautiful blue Mediterranean coastline.

Our driver will drop you off at the first village of Monte Rosso, from where you can proceed to the other villages by taking the local train, or even the little boat that stops at each post, affording views of the stunning coast line. At Monte Rosso, you can visit the medieval “Torre Aurora” (the Dawn Tower), which divides the old part of the town from the new parts. You can also see the Van Dyck Crucifix in the San Francesco Church and the eighteenth century Sanctuary of Soviore. The beach is famous for being so picturesque. There is a sixteenth century Capucchin monastery with some fine works of arts. There is also an ancient castle.

In 1997 the entire waters of Cinque Terre were made a Marine Protected Area. This welcome step forward will safeguard the diverse range of animal species and unique vegetation, including several rare types of coral.

Vernazza features ruins of an old medieval tower.

In Corniglia, there is a secluded beach, which you can reach by walking through an abandoned railway station.

Rio Maggiore is very picturesque with its pastel coloured houses and a beautiful horse shaped dock. 

Manarola is an ideal authentic fishing village. Pass some time sipping some crisp white wine, enjoying the sun and listening to the swarks of the overhead birds mimicking the squeals of happy children jumping off the rocks into the crystal sea.

Centuries old footpaths and mule tracks through the rocks wind their way through all the five villages, about five hundred to a thousand feet above sea level. These paths meander through vineyards, olive groves, orchards and chestnut woods uniquely characteristic of the natural areas of the Mediterranean.

The entire island villages have brightly coloured houses with steep steps descending to the sea, meaning each village has to be explored by foot to savour its uniqueness. It is a pleasure not only to trek through the paths laid out through the villages but to walk in the cobbled streets in the villages with their bright and beautiful houses. All these attractions add to the panorama of this region, which is sometimes referred to as the Italian Riviera.

UNESCO has designated Cinque Terre as a World Heritage Site. The coastal path that connects Levanto and Monte Rosso is unique as it winds through a national park. This has been designated as a National Park by the Government to protect and conserve its biodiversity. It can be considered as a must-visit hot-spot of the region. There is also a small group of ruins in the park to explore.

Although you can walk and trek through the whole region, it is a good idea to take the local trains from village to village and have breakfast in one village, lunch at the next and perhaps dessert at the third. In between, enjoy an Italian coffee, or a glass of wine. In summer from April you may also opt to go for boat rides to the islands of Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre offers a different culinary experience, as many traditional Tuscan dishes are a result of the uniqueness of their cuisine. Some of the local dishes you can sample include:

• “Troffie” which is a type of pasta made from chestnut or wheat flour. It is believed to be the forerunner of the modern day pasta. It is served with the original Liguarian “pesto sauce.”
• “Cotoletta di acciuga'' is another popular dish from this region. In this dish anchovies are filled with a bread-based filling and then fried.
• “Fritelle di Bianchetti'' is another famous dish. These are fritters made from anchovies or sardines.

Alternatively, try fresh and delicious seafood like stewed cuttlefish, stuffed calamari and spiced octopus.

Cinque Terre is also a famous wine-producing region. Some of its renowned vintages include a dry white wine simply called “Cinque Terre”, “Sciacchetra” which is a prized dessert wine made from prime grapes dried to the point of having only a few drops of sweet juice.

“Limoncino” is another famous dessert wine made from steeping lemon peels in pure alcohol. Then sugar and water is added to make fragrant and fresh liquor similar to Limoncello from the Amalfi region.

The villages also have many shops where you can find local artisans whittling away at wood making showpieces, picture frames and fishing nets.

After exploring all the five villages, your driver will await you at the last town to drive you back along the old winding road with its magnificent views, returning to your accommodation in Florence.

Rates (Per Person): Full-day Tour

=> Please note that the rate mentioned here includes a pick-up and drop-off in Florence. Driver can be arranged to collect you from the place you stay in any region within Tuscany and the respective rates will be quoted separately.
=> Boat and ferry tickets or lunch are not included in the rates.
=> A tour guide is available at additional cost, upon request.

Enquiry

To visit the beautiful Cinque Terre with us and enjoy this diverse ecological landscape, simply fill in the registration formand enquire about the Cinque Terre Trip for your preferred dates. Alternatively you can enquire about this travel tour by email info@excursionsintuscany.com.