If you’re after a holiday with spectacular scenery and delicious meals galore, the Cinque Terre in Liguria could be the perfect destination for you.
This stunning Italian Riviera destination is famous for its rocky, mountainous landscape and sweeping, dramatic coastline. In fact, the terrain here – complete with terraces painstakingly carved into the rock, has largely remained unchanged for centuries.
It is this unspoiled charm that has caused the Cinque Terre to be declared a Unesco World Heritage Site, with the surrounding hills and the five charming villages of Manarola, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Comiglia and Monterosso al Mare also located within this protected area.
The Cinque Terre is best travelled by using the local network of trains, boats and public walking paths. If you are planning to stay in the region itself, you may wish to carefully consider where your holiday cottage in Liguria is located, as this could affect your itinerary.
Walking and hiking are popular activities in this part of Italy – with so much stunning natural scenery around every corner, exploring on foot offers the perfect opportunity to get up close and personal with some of Liguria’s awe-inspiring sights.
And when you’ve had your fill of navigating the craggy coastline and rocky peaks, there are plenty of other delights to enjoy in the Cinque Terre.
Spending time in one of the five villages is a great way to learn more about local life – and one of the best ways to gain a greater appreciation for the coastal culture is to indulge in a seafood meal.
With the Mediterranean Sea at its doorstep, the Cinque Terre is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious meal of fish or shellfish, prepared with traditional Italian simplicity.
Another local delicacy well worth sampling is pesto. The entire region of Liguria prides itself on producing some of the finest pesto in Italy – you may wish to try a few different variations on this classic sauce of basil leaves, olive oil, garlic, pine nuts and cheese during your visit.
You can wash your delicious meal down with one of the many fine locally-produced beverages, including two different types of wine – Sciachetra and Cinque Terre – or limoncello or grappa, two popular liqueurs among the residents here.
For snacks or a hearty picnic if you are doing a bit of hiking, you may also want to stop by a bakery for some fresh focaccia bread or sample farinata – a local crispy pancake-style bread made from chickpea flour.
Whether you visit the Cinque Terre for the stunning natural scenery, the delicious seafood or the friendly welcome from the locals, you’re sure to have a villa holiday to remember in this breathtaking region of Italy.
Tags: craggy coastline, local delicacy, monterosso al mare, unesco world heritage, unesco world heritage site, world heritage site, worth sampling