Another Cliff Top Trek

The boardwalk in Monterosso
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The Cinque Terre was a last minute addition to our action packed Italy plans as we were told by fellow hikers on the Inca Trail that it cannot be missed! So with high expectations, we jumped on a couple of trains from Florence destined for these five little towns along the Italian Riviera!

Our little adventure started with a hitch when we missed the train stop, but after a 20 minute wait and a quick train in the opposite direction, we were back on track in the first of the Cinque Terre towns, Monterosso. Firstly, a little bit of history! The Cinque Terre are five coastal villages in the North of Italy famous for the breathtaking walks between the towns and the old fashioned charm of the towns themselves.

The path wound along the cliff tops around olive groves and down valleys to gorgeous views of the sea and countryside

A stroll on Lovers Lane
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The first town of Monterosso is a gorgeous little town with a beautiful sandy (to us, it felt more pebbly) beach curling  around the cliffside. After a quick stroll along the coast with a gelati, we jumped on the train to the next town of Riomaggiore for the infamous Via dell'Amore (Lovers Lane) to Manorola. The walk was just breathtaking with amazing sea views the whole way along. There was a cute little seat half way along which couples had covered in padlocks to symbolise their commitment to each other! Very Romantic!

Gorgeous Sea Views
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But the best was yet to come as we began the 1.5 hour hike from Corniglia to Vernazza. The path wound along the cliff tops around olive groves and down valleys and then back up cliffs to gorgeous views of the sea and surrounding countryside! At every turn, we had to stop and marvel at the amazing views of the scenery and the little towns that perched on the edge of clifftops! Although we had allowed plenty of time to make it there before dark, our constant stopping meant we just made it to Vernazza as the sun set over the ocean showering the sky with amazing shades of orange! It was just a perfect end to an amazing day!

The town of Manorola perched on the side of the cliff
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This little cluster of romantic villages took our breath away from the moment we arrived and it was truly one of the highlights of our trip!