Indipendent traveler

Visiting Pisa from the Cinque Terre

Visiting Pisa from the Cinque Terre is not only easy, but it is an excellent alternative on rainy days, and we recommend it!

Suppose you are our fan/follower on social networks. In that case, you know that we often recommend visiting our destination calmly, dedicating the right time to villages, hiking paths, and experiences, perhaps extending your stay a little to be able to experience something that goes beyond the classic postcards pics from the Cinque Terre.

In reality, however, a very valid reason to extend your holiday in the Cinque Terre is that from here you can easily visit our beautiful surroundings: from the Gulf of Poets to Tigullio with the noble Portofino, from the hinterland with historic villages and food and wine products to unique cities such as Genoa and Pisa and then Lucca and Pietrasanta with sculptors and marble quarries to discover. There is something for all tastes.

A day trip to Pisa

The Cinque Terre are about a hundred kilometers from Pisa, and the well-known Tuscan city is easily reachable by train, changing in La Spezia. The journey takes about an hour, and there are dozens of trips every day in both directions.

From the train station, you can then reach the main tourist and historical-cultural sites in a few minutes walking.

We know that when you read “visiting Pisa,” you thought of the Leaning Tower. Still, just as the Cinque Terre offer much more than the colorful and perfect Instagram shot, Pisa also has much more to offer: historic buildings, monuments, and museums are witnesses of the Maritime Republic, which for centuries was in direct competition with our Republic of Genoa.

Furthermore, Pisa is a renowned university city, dynamic and lively.

Visiting Pisa

Starting from the station, we advise you to walk towards Corso Italia, the shopping street and probably the most famous alley in the city. You can reach the Church of Sant’Antonio with a quick detour and enjoy the colorful Tuttomondo mural signed by Keith Haring. Pass Piazza del Carmine and Piazza Gambacorti, also known as Piazza della Pera (i.e., Pear Square). You will arrive at the Logge dei Banchi at the entrance to the Ponte di Mezzo, a loggia designed by Buontalenti in the early 17th century, home to the wool and silk market.

Before crossing the bridge, we recommend visiting Palazzo Blu, where you can perhaps see one of their stunning temporary exhibitions, and the small Church of the Spina, in pure Gothic style.

Then continue towards Lungarno Galilei, where you can admire the city’s architectural evolution, Palazzo Lanfranchi, and the beautiful octagonal Church of San Sepolcro, dedicated to the Templars.

On the other bank of the Arno, you can stroll along the Lungarno Mediceo and admire Palazzo Medici, the residence of Cosimo Il Vecchio and Lorenzo Il Magnifico, known as Palazzo Vecchio. Then the church of San Matteo flanked by the National Museum. You can then head towards Borgo Stretto, a medieval street dotted with historic shops and suggestive arcades.

Borgo Stretto then flows into Borgo Largo from which to reach on the left Piazza dei Cavalieri, the seat of the Scuola Normale, the Church of Santo Stefano, the Palazzo della Carovana and above all the mythical Dante’s Hunger Tower, where Count Ugolino della Gherardesca was imprisoned with his children and grandchildren.

Continuing for about a kilometer, you arrive in Piazza dei Miracoli, with the famous architectural complex representative of the cycle of life, consisting of the Baptistery, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Cemetery, and the mythical and much-coveted Leaning Tower, the bell tower of the Cathedral, a remarkable example of Pisan Romanesque in gray and white marble, decorated with polychrome marble.

To climb the Tower, we recommend that you book your ticket online in advance. To visit the Duomo, the Opera del Duomo Museum, and the Sinopie Museum, we recommend buying a combined ticket.

If you feel like visiting something else in the city before returning to the Cinque Terre, we recommend the Botanical Garden. A few minutes walk from Piazza dei Miracoli, and then the Museum of Ancient Ships, and a walk along the walls of Pisa.

If, on the other hand, you opt for a half-day visit, you can dedicate the afternoon to visiting the nearby and wonderful Lucca, to which we will dedicate a post shortly!

Guided tours in the Cinque Terre Park

Visite guidate nel parco delle Cinque Terre

During summer, the Cinque Terre National Park organizes guided tours and visits to discover our villages and hiking trails. A program known as the “Cinque Terre Walking Park” and reserved to Cinque Terre Card holders, without additional costs, but with a mandatory email booking.

To participate, in addition to booking, you need to show up at the departure a few minutes before, wearing suitable footwear for mountain-like paths. We also recommend you read our practical tips for a safe and enjoyable hiking experience.

The program of guided tours and hikes in the Cinque Terre Park in October

1: hike from Manarola to “Fondazione Manarola”. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
3: hike from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Levanto
5: E-bike Tour from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 p.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Levanto
8: hike from Manarola to Groppo and back, with tasting in the local winery. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station in Manarola
10: a hike in and around Monterosso to discover its vineyards and lemon grows. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
15: hike from Manarola to Corniglia, via Volastra, with tasting in the local winery. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station in Manarola
16: hike from Corniglia to Vernazza (SVA-blue trail). The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at Cinque Terre Point at the railway station of Corniglia
19: E-bike Tour from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 4:30 p.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Levanto
22: hike from Riomaggiore to the winery “Possa,” with wine tasting and visit of the vineyards. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
24: hike from Vernazza to Monterosso (SVA-blue trail). The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at Cinque Terre Point at the railway station of Vernazza
29: hike from Manarola to “Fondazione Manarola”. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
31: a hike in and around Monterosso to discover its vineyards and lemon grows. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso

Guided visits to the villages in October

2 guided tour of Vernazza and Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Vernazza
9: guided tour of Manarola and Riomaggiore. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
14: guided tour of Riomaggiore and Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
17: guided tour of Monterosso and Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
23: guided tour of Manarola and Riomaggiore. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
28: guided tour of Vernazza and Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Vernazza
30: guided tour of Corniglia and Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Corniglia

The oenological Possa experience in Riomaggiore

The program of guided tours and hikes in the Cinque Terre Park in September

3: hike from Manarola to “Fondazione Manarola”. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
4: hike from Corniglia to Vernazza (SVA-blue trail). The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at Cinque Terre Point at the railway station of Corniglia
9: hike from Riomaggiore to Montenero, then Volastra and Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 9 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
10: E-bike Tour from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Levanto
12: a hike in and around Monterosso to discover its vineyards and lemon grows. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
17: hike from Manarola to “Fondazione Manarola”. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
19: hike from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Levanto
22: E-bike Tour from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 4:30 p.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Levanto
6: hike from Manarola to Groppo and back, with tasting in the local winery. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station in Manarola
8: a hike in and around Monterosso to discover its vineyards and lemon grows. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
13: hike from Riomaggiore to the winery “Possa,” with wine tasting and visit of the vineyards. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
14: hike from Corniglia to Vernazza (SVA-blue trail). The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at Cinque Terre Point at the railway station of Corniglia
18: E-bike Tour from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Levanto
20: hike from Manarola to “Fondazione Manarola”. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
22: a hike in and around Monterosso to discover its vineyards and lemon grows. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
27: hike from Riomaggiore to Montenero, then Volastra and Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 9 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
28: hike from Vernazza to Monterosso (SVA-blue trail). The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at Cinque Terre Point at the railway station of Vernazza

Guided visits to the villages in September

2: guided tour of Riomaggiore and Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
5: guided tour of Monterosso and Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
11: guided tour of Vernazza and Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Vernazza
16: guided tour of Riomaggiore and Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
18: guided tour of Vernazza and Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Vernazza
26: guided tour of Monterosso and Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
30: guided tour of Riomaggiore and Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore

The program of guided tours and hikes in the Cinque Terre Park in August

4: E-bike Tour from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Levanto
6: hike from Manarola to Groppo and back, with tasting in the local winery. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station in Manarola
8: a hike in and around Monterosso to discover its vineyards and lemon grows. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
13: hike from Riomaggiore to the winery “Possa,” with wine tasting and visit of the vineyards. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
14: hike from Corniglia to Vernazza (SVA-blue trail). The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at Cinque Terre Point at the railway station of Corniglia
18: E-bike Tour from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Levanto
20: hike from Manarola to “Fondazione Manarola”. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
22: a hike in and around Monterosso to discover its vineyards and lemon grows. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
24: hike from Corniglia to Manarola via the hamlet of Volastra. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station in Corniglia
25: hike from Vernazza to Monterosso (SVA-blue trail). The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at Cinque Terre Point at the railway station of Vernazza

Guided visits to the villages in August

2: guided tour of Riomaggiore and Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
5: guided tour of Monterosso and Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
7: guided tour of Corniglia and Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Corniglia
12: guided tour of Riomaggiore and Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
14: guided tour of Corniglia and Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Corniglia
15: guided tour of Monterosso and Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
21: guided tour of Corniglia and Riomaggiore. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Corniglia
26: guided tour of Riomaggiore and Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
29: guided tour of Monterosso and Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso

The program of guided tours and hikes in the Cinque Terre Park in July

2: hike from Riomaggiore to Montenero, then Volastra and Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 8.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
4: a hike in and around Monterosso to discover its vineyards and lemon grows. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
7: E-bike Tour from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Levanto
9: hike from Manarola to Groppo and back, with tasting in the local winery. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station in Manarola
15: hike from Riomaggiore to the winery “Possa,” with wine tasting and visit of the vineyards. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
16: hike from Manarola to “Fondazione Manarola”. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
21: E-bike Tour from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Levanto
23: hike from Manarola, to discover its honey and wine. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station in Manarola
25: a hike in and around Monterosso to discover its vineyards and lemon grows. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
29: hike from Corniglia to Vernazza (SVA-blue trail). The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at Cinque Terre Point at the railway station of Corniglia

The program of guided tours and hikes in the Cinque Terre Park in June

June 1: hike from Manarola to “Fondazione Manarola”. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
June 3: hike from Corniglia to Manarola via the hamlet of Volastra. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station in Corniglia
June 6: “The scent of Lemons,” a hike in and around Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
June 9: E-bike Tour from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
June 11: hike from Manarola to Groppo and back, with tasting in the local winery. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station in Manarola
June 13: hike from Levanto to Monterosso, with visits to the restored farm “Case Lovara.” The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at Cinque Terre Point at the railway station of Levanto.
16: hike from Riomaggiore to the winery “Possa,” with wine tasting and visit of the vineyards. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore17: hike from Corniglia to Vernazza (SVA-blue trail). The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at Cinque Terre Point at the railway station of Corniglia
18: hike from Manarola to Corniglia via the hamlet of Volastra. The meeting with the guide is at 9.30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station in Manarola
June 20: “The scent of Lemons,” a hike in and around Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
June 25: hike from Manarola to “Fondazione Manarola”. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
June 27: “The scent of Lemons,” a hike in and around Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 9:30 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
June 30: E-bike Tour from Levanto to Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 6 p.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso

Guided visits to the villages in July

1: guided tour of Corniglia. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Corniglia
3: guided tour of Vernazza and Riomaggiore. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Vernazza
10: guided tour of Manarola and Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
11: guided tour of Corniglia. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Corniglia
17: guided tour of Riomaggiore and Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
18: guided tour of Monterosso and Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
24: guided tour of Corniglia. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Corniglia
30: guided tour of Manarola and Riomaggiore. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
31: guided tour of Vernazza and Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Vernazza

Guided visits to the villages in June

June 2: guided tour of Riomaggiore. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
June 2: guided tour of Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
June 4: guided tour of Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
June 4: guided tour of Corniglia. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Corniglia
June 5: guided tour of Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Vernazza
June 5: guided tour of Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
June 10: guided tour of Corniglia. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Corniglia
June 12: guided tour of Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Vernazza
June 12: guided tour of Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
June 19: guided tour of Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Vernazza
June 19: guided tour of Monterosso. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Monterosso
June 23: guided tour of Riomaggiore. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Riomaggiore
June 23: guided tour of Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola
June 24: guided tour of Corniglia. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Corniglia
June 26: guided tour of Vernazza. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Vernazza
June 26: guided tour of Manarola. The meeting with the guide is at 10 a.m. at the Park Info Point at the railway station of Manarola

In case of bad weather conditions, the program could obviously change and the guided hike could also be canceled.

Swimming with mermaids in Cinque Terre

Swimming with mermaids in the Cinque Terre is finally possible because, let’s face it, who has not dreamed of it at least once!

Inspired by Luca, the new Disney – Pixar film set in Cinque Terre version balancing itself between true local tradition and dream, this summer you will be able to live a unique and unforgettable experience: swimming with mermaids and discovering the wonderful seabed of the Cinque Terre Marine Protected Area.

After a brief introduction to basic free-diving techniques, on August 21st and September 11th in the afternoon, from 4:30 pm to 6 pm, you can dive and snorkel with the mermaids.

The experience costs € 40 per person, and this year it does not include masks and snorkeling kits, which due to Covid-19 regulations, cannot be rented. Don’t forget your own to enjoy the swim fully!

To book the swim with the mermaids in Cinque Terre

The experience can be booked by texting this number on WhatsApp: +39 366 8982748

Swimming in Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre National Park is famous for its hiking trails. Still, we have also had swimming paths for some years now, starting from the villages of Vernazza, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

The swimming lanes are delimited by buoys connected by peaks, made with environmentally friendly materials as part of the NEPTUNE project, and follow the coastline, allowing you to swim and snorkel in safety and tranquility.

The project aims to apply common systems of sustainable management of underwater heritage at a transboundary level, raising the awareness of managers and users about the natural and cultural value of transboundary underwater heritage.

The swimming lanes in the Cinque Terre

In Riomaggiore, the path, about 200 meters long, starts from the eastern corner of the Fossola beach up to Lama Crexia.
In Manarola, it is about 300 meters long and starts from Punta Bonfiglio to get to the beginning of the Corniglia beach.
In Vernazza, it develops for about 600 meters, starting from the beach and connecting Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare.

The literary nature trails of the Eugenio Montale Literary Park

The Parco Letterario® Eugenio Montale, an en plein air space where the literary adjective indicates a widespread and at the same time circumscribed place that covers the entire territory of the Cinque Terre, was born in 2015, in collaboration with Parchi Letterari® Italiani ed Europei.

The Park offers a cycle of walks and excursions marked by verse readings and insights into local nature and history, by the naturalist Carlo Torricelli and the expert of Montale Cristina Currarini.

The literary nature trails of the Eugenio Montale Park are free but reserved for holders of the Cinque Terre Card only. The maximum number of participants is set at 15, and reservations are required by e-mail. Together with the confirmation, you will be sent the Anticovid specification, to be returned by e-mail signed and signed for acceptance.

To participate, you need to wear suitable footwear for walking on trails. We also recommend you read our practical tips for trekking safely and fully enjoying it.

The literary nature trails of the Eugenio Montale Literary Park

August 1st at 9:30 am – verses in the shadow of the giant. A walk between the two villas owned by the Montale family, Villa Montale and Villa La Vecchiona, the promontory of Mesco, up to the “Portigiun,” between the places of the poet’s childhood and adolescence. The walk takes about 2 hours and starts from the Park Info Point at the Monterosso station.
August 11 at 6:00 pm – from Monterosso to Punta Corcone, listening to the reading and commentary of classic and well-known verses by Montale related to the landscape and the sea, admiring the sunset. The walk takes about 2 hours and starts from the Park Info Point at the Monterosso station.
August 12 at 9:30 am – Manarola, between land and sea. A circular route through the small promontory to Punta Bonfiglio, accompanied by the verses of Montale. The walk takes about 2 hours and starts from the Park Info Point at the Manarola station.
September 18 at 3:00 pm – the hill harvest, from Volastra to Corniglia. An excursion from the churchyard of the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Salute in Volastra to the village of Corniglia, along the panoramic paths 586 and 587. The walk takes about 3 hours and starts from the Info Point of the Park at the Manarola station.
September 19 at 9:30 am – a walk between the Capuchin convent and Buranco. From Piazzale Belvedere, the terrace overlooking the sea, the path winds uphill through “the uncles of friars” on the hill of San Cristoforo to the Convent of the Capuchin friars. We will then descends through the ancient Via Buranco to the Church of San Giovanni Battista. The walk takes about 2 hours and starts from the Park Info Point at the Monterosso station.
October 23 at 8:30 am – tree, wonderful creature. A walk between the sanctuaries of Nostra Signora di Soviore and Nostra Signora di Reggio, placing the typical trees and the local flora at the center, also of the literary path. The walk takes about 4 hours and starts from the Info Point of the Park at the Monterosso station, from which you will leave for Soviore by bus. The arrival is in Vernazza.

In case of adverse weather conditions, the program could change, and the excursion could also be canceled.

Cinque Terre, a human landscape

Cinque Terre are a human landscape, in the sense that if it were for nature here they would be only steep cliffs lashed by the sea and woods upstream.

Man in the Cinque Terre has not only built settlements and then villages but has shaped the landscape by creating the terraces that make this strip of coast so special and identifying.

The permanent exhibition “Cinque Terre, a human landscape”

Throughout August, the Castello di Riomaggiore will be open daily, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m., as a tourist information point, but also and above all as the location of the permanent exhibition Cinque Terre, a human landscape.

The exhibition, sponsored by the Municipality of Riomaggiore, was created thanks to the Cinque Terre National Park – Marine Protected Area and the precious work of volunteers.

The project and the exhibition’s texts were curated by Attilio Casavecchia, while the images are by Anselmo Crovara from the Museum of Memory and by Walter Bilotta, who also oversaw the graphic project and Doriano Franceschetti.

Texts and images have been elaborated to disseminate local history and culture, make the Cinque Terre landscape better known, and facilitate its understanding, treating in detail the territory of Riomaggiore.

For those over 12 years old, there is an entrance ticket costing 1 €, while the exhibition is free for children, disabled people, and residents of the Municipality of Riomaggiore.

A trip to Portofino from the Cinque Terre

A trip to Portofino from the Cinque Terre is not only very feasible, but we recommend it!

If you follow us on social media, you will know that we often repeat to visit calmly and dedicate the right time to villages, trails, and experiences, perhaps extending the stay a little to experience something that goes beyond the glossy postcards of the Cinque Terre.

In reality, however, a very valid reason to extend your holiday in the Cinque Terre is that from here you can easily visit our wonderful surroundings: from the Gulf of Poets to Tigullio, from the hinterland with historic villages and food and wine products to unique cities such as Genoa and Pisa and then Lucca and Pietrasanta with sculptors and marble quarries to discover. In short, there is something for all tastes.

A trip to Portofino

Portofino, included within the Regional Natural Park of Portofino, is a typical Ligurian coastal village, once inhabited mainly by fishermen, whose boats were protected by the shape of the small bay – within the Gulf of Tigullio – surrounded by colorful tower houses arranged in a semicircle around the famous Piazzetta.

To reach it from the Cinque Terre, you have several options:

by car, a means of transport we also advise against to reach our own villages, you can reach Portofino in about an hour and a half from Riomaggiore, via La Spezia (A12 Genoa – La Spezia motorway, Rapallo exit). On arrival, however, you will have the problem of parking, between scarcity and high costs;
by train, in about an hour and twenty, with change in Sestri Levante and arrival in Santa Margherita Ligure, from where, perhaps after visiting the village, you can take a bus (line 882) or take a one-hour panoramic walk;
by boat, from La Spezia or Levanto in July and August, or getting by train to Rapallo or Santa Margherita and treating yourself to a twenty minutes boat trip, discovering stunning Portofino from the sea;
with one of the several boat tours offered in our area. The most expensive option, but undoubtedly the one that offers the most beautiful, complete, and certainly unforgettable experience!

Visiting Portofino

As you already know, Portofino is today a favorite destination of the international jet set, chosen by many VIPs for their summer stays, in the splendid villas that dot the bay or aboard the sumptuous boats that have now almost completely supplanted local fishing boats.

Over a stroll between the Piazzetta and the pier, a glass of wine by the water, and maybe some crazy shopping in the famous fashion boutiques, we recommend a walk to the lighthouse and then to the Second World War bunker, and then a visit to the following monuments downtown:

Divo Martino Church: in Romanesque-Lombard style, it is dedicated to San Martino of Tour and was donated to the monks of the abbey of San Fruttuoso by Queen Adelaide, widow of Ottone I. Note the bronze portal signed by Costanzo Mongini, depicting the eighteenth-century miracle of San Giorgio which unleashed a violent storm to save Portofino from a pirate assault;
Church of San Giorgio: a small and suggestive oval temple on the cliff, reachable along a narrow creuza. The present building, however, is the result of an almost complete reconstruction following a bombing during the Second World War;
Brown Castle, formerly San Giorgio: it is a military fortress whose remains of the watchtower date back to Roman times. The current building dates back to the 16th century, with extensions wanted by the Genoese Republic and then developed by Napoleon, who strengthened its defensive system. In 1870 the castle was sold to Sir Montague Yeats Brown, English consul in Rome; since 1961, it has been owned by the municipality which uses it for cultural events.

From here, if you plan well, you can also visit the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, hiking along a splendid and ancient path, or by boat. However, we will talk about San Fruttuoso in another post because it really deserves a trip to itself and another day, perhaps even including a visit to lovely Camogli.

Hiking from Manarola to Corniglia via Volastra

The walk that leads from Manarola to Corniglia is one of the most panoramic in our region and passes through olive groves, vineyards, woods, and cliffs, passing through Volastra.

Hiking from Manarola to Corniglia via Volastra

about 5 km
335 m of altitude on the sea
about 2h30 hiking
for trained hikers
trail 506, then 586 and 587

The path

After spending some time discovering and visiting the village of Manarola, you can walk up the valley on the right of the Groppo stream. This first part of the walk is a rather steep climb, up to the locality of Piè di Fiesse, from where you will continue for a few meters along the SP 51 towards Groppo until you find an old mule track on the left.

This last stretch of the climb is already less steep and is surrounded by fields planted with olive trees that characterize the path up to Volastra, formerly known as Vicolus Olivastre, or the village of the olive groves.

After a stop at the suggestive Shrine of Our Lady of Health, built in sandstone in the twelfth century, you can continue the walk, which is now all with a view of the sea, through vineyards and terraces.

A real wonder and one of the few almost flat sections of our territory. However, some passages are quite narrow, and there are no protections, so we advise you to pay close attention to the walkway, even though the landscape changes step by step and leaves you breathless.

“Liguria will not remain in history because it discovered America and played Paganini’s violin, but because of the first man who brought out a bunch of grapes from a rock overlooking the sea”
Vittorio G. Rossi, “The dog barks at the moon”

From the typical vineyards, you pass to the Mediterranean scrub, with a section of path immersed in the pine and holm oak wood between the inhabited center of Porciana and up to Case Pianca, from where you begin the descent towards Corniglia, along an ancient mule track, at times bumpy, which crosses a beautiful pine forest overlooking the sea and then reaches olive groves and vineyards near the town.

For more details on this and other hikes in the region, you can also consult trails on the Cinque Terre National Park’s official map.

For less trained walkers

If you are not too fit, you can also avoid the climb from Manarola to Volastra by opting for a more comfortable and faster bus.

Just go to the Park Info Point located at the train station to buy the ticket, which costs € 1.50 if purchased at the Info Point or € 2 if directly on the van. For those who already have the Cinque Terre Card, the service is instead included.

The minibus leaves from the post office, and, given the few seats, we advise you to be at the stop a little early.

Cinque Terre Walking Park, September 2020

During the weekend, the Cinque Terre National Park organizes guided excursions to discover our hiking trails. A program known as the “Cinque Terre Walking Park” and reserved to Cinque Terre Card holders, without additional costs, but with a mandatory email booking.

Circular routes starting from the park’s info point at the train stations of the five villages. The hike always lasts about four hours, starting at 9 a.m and is recommended for expert hikers.

The Cinque Terre Walking Park program

September 5: Vernazza
September 6: Corniglia
September 12: Manarola
September 13: Riomaggiore
September 19: Monterosso
September 20: Vernazza

In case of bad weather conditions the program could obviously change and the guided hike could also be canceled.

Superiponti

Superiponti – a photographic itinerary across the bridges of Manarola

This year the Associazione Culturale Radici choose to retrace the history of Manarola through one of its peculiarities that progress has erased: the bridges. Built along the banks of the Groppo canal, until a few years ago, the narrow main street intertwined with the course of the canal until it reached its mouth.

Looking for space and for a new, less tiring life, a gradual roofing process emerged, already completed in the village of Riomaggiore. Beginning in the valley in the 1950s and slowly moving up the stream to join at the end of the years ’70 with the main road.

Superiponti, the exposition

Through QR codes, visitors will be able to observe on their device the ancient glimpses of the village and the activities that characterized them: from the grape harvests to the washing of clothes, from transport with mules to the joy of great family events, all through the vision of the many artists who have visited our village.

On the church square, in the Oratory, a photographic exhibition on the subject is open to the public every day from August 29 to September 13, from 4 to 7 pm.

The cultural association Radici

Superiponti is an event organized by the Associazione culturale Radici, which aims to enhance the cultural heritage of the villages of the Cinque Terre, in order to pass on our tradition and soul to future generations; preserve and catalog the existing photographic and historical heritage creating an observatory on the landscape that highlights its transformation over time and allows its conservation.

Live Cinque Terre Music Festival

In the second half of August, it will be time for the Live Cinque Terre Music Festival in Riomaggiore: for five consecutive evenings, Piazza del Vignaiolo will host the main entertainment of the Riomaggiore summer.

The lights will turn on again under the starry sky to illuminate a stage full of artists united by the desire to bring music and theater back to the streets of Riomaggiore.

Live Cinque Terre Music Festival

The Live Cinque Terre Music Festival, sponsored by the Municipality of Riomaggiore, is organized by SDG Entertainment in collaboration with Live Cinque Terre and the Riomaior 2019 Soccer Team and follows the artistic direction of Stefano Di Gangi who in past years already had the opportunity to express himself through cultural successful events including Boudoir Circus as part of the 2013 White Night and the unforgettable Briomaggiore, the jazz & music festival with a strong tourist appeal that has rightfully entered the history of the Cinque Terre.

The schedule, designed for a heterogeneous audience of adults and children, will see the participation of an important theater company flanked by local artists, but no less virtuous, who will perform in lyric, pop and light music and blues sounds.

Performances will all be free thanks to the fundamental contribution of many activities in the village that have made this great magic possible.

The Live Cinque Terre Music Festival program

August 19

Tenor Eros Lombardo will open the festival on August 19th at 10:30 pm. He will delight the audience by interpreting Giacomo Puccini’s most classic arias such as E lucevan le stelle from Tosca and Nessun dorma from Turandot.

The musical is a genre that has now entered our DNA and that fascinates all ages: in Riomaggiore it will be staged by the Teatro Giovani Torrita Company presenting three shows.

Le Adorabili Scanzonette, staged by Giulio Benvenuti and directed by Giovanni Giannini, is played by Martina Bardelli, Emma De Nola, Lisa Lucchesi, and Mikela Rebua. Four friends who, through the most famous musical hits of the 50s and 60s, will tell us the dreams, fears, and hopes of a past dear to us all.

Among stolen loves, plots, and skirmishes between friends, we will soon discover that these “Scanzonette” are not so “Adorable”, and above all that, no matter how hard they try, they do not respect the canons of the perfect woman so much told in those years. A fun and interactive show that will leave the audience with a sincere smile.

August 20

The same company, from 9 to 11:30, will propose an enthralling choreographies stage inspired by the famous show “The little shop of horrors” that the participants will then be able to re-propose to the audience the following evening (the stage is aimed at “children” from 0 to 99 years old and costs € 15 Euros per person – to book please phone +39 336 688 6604).

From 9 pm it will then be the turn of Le fiabe di John, the acoustic duo composed by Chiara Galeotti and Francesco Petacco, performing soul, jazz, and blues sounds.

Will you tell me about a fairy tale?, with songs and soundtracks taken from Disney feature films: an evening full of surprises, words, music, and fun for the little ones but above all for the grown-ups who would like to listen once again to the magic of fairy tales.

August 21

At 10:30 pm Kisses from Broadway, a play inspired by the world of overseas musical theater. A Chorus Line, Mamma mia !, Cabaret, Rent, Les miserable, Wiked, Cats, Jekill and Hyde, Chicago… are just some of the titles that the artists on stage will face to offer you entertainment of the highest level.

August 22

The soprano Angela Queni will propose at 10.30 pm an evening entitled “In the imagination, the magic of music” performing famous lyric and pop music pieces.

August 23

At 10:30 pm Cinzia Lombardi will delight us retracing famous songs from the 60s to today, ranging from Mina to the Beatles.

A musical selection by Brux DJ will follow. But don’t be fooled by the word. “No disco. It will be a soft musical entertainment” 😉