Pisa

Pisa! There’s so much to see there even beyond the famous sights. What a beautiful city!

I went there on a day trip, from where I was staying in the Cinque Terre, in the spring of 2023. It was a fairly easy train trip using TrenItalia, and their app is very handy by the way.

My itinerary was pretty simple to see the major sites and then with the remaining time do whatever before catching the train back. Those sites for me were: the leaning tower, the cathedral, the baptistry, and the cemetery. I purchased a combo ticket in advance from the official website. I didn't end up climbing the tower but from the videos online it looks interesting, as long as you're okay being at an angle.

From the main, Pisa Centrale, train station it's only about a twenty-five minute walk to the field of miracles and the leaning tower, depending on any stops along the way. I tried using the walking route suggested in the Rick Steve's guide book. I ended up getting a little lost, and used my offline google maps as a backup, but found some good fresh focaccia from a shop that was just opening. There were some interesting sights along the way as well.

Once you arrive at the "Field of Miracles" (Campo dei Miracoli), you'll see both amazing and surreal historical sites and architecture. You'll also see plenty of tourists not taking themselves too seriously and doing all sorts of silly photo poses with the leaning tower behind them.

Seeing the leaning tower in person is truly surreal! It seems especially odd if you look at it with the lovely cathedral in the background to really get a sense of how tilted it is.

From the main sites a few of the other highlights for me were: beautiful cathedral with nice artwork, the quiet and not crowded cemetery with good art as well, and if you time it right you can catch a fun auditory demonstration from the baptistry.

I almost walked the historic wall around the field of miracles but decided to just explore the city on my way back to the train. I happened upon a nice little pizza place not too far away from Pisa Centrale. I also came across a grocery store where you could find DOCG wine for really reasonable prices.

After enjoying the pizza I still had a bit of time to pass before catching my return train. I ended up finding a place to have an 'aperitivo' right by a piazza which made for a nice location to sip, snack and watch the happenings of the area.

Here are some more videos that I hope that you enjoy. Ciao.

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Lucca

 

Lucca is a great day trip and a place where you don't mind getting lost in the old town. It's fun to leisurely explore and you might as well expect to get lost and then check your offline google map.  It has a great mix of architecture and art. There are fun places to relax or rent a bike as well.

I ignored advice of avoiding touristy places for meals. I was wooed by the views in Piazza dell'Anfiteatro and had lunch at an okay place. The tortellini were nothing great but it was still nice to enjoy the views.

I didn't really have much of an agenda while there. I enjoyed a cappuccino at a coffee bar in the morning. Then it was good fun to explore the sights, streets, open air markets, and capture the moments with my film camera and iPhone as well.

getting lost in Lucca's old town is part of the fun

Lucca has a nice chill vibe. It's an interesting town with a lot of options. You can explore the art and history of various churches, climb towers for a nice view, rent a bike and ride atop the wall, or just relax somewhere and take in the sights.

renting a bike looks like a lot of fun here

If you happen to be there in the spring you can catch the classical music festival. Other events that Lucca is known for are other music festivals and a comics and games convention.

If I were to return I think that I'd rent a bike and explore the trail atop the wall. It'd be fun to browse shops, grocery stores, and even try a few recommended restaurants as well.

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Portofino

 

It's easier than you might think to explore Portofino without breaking the bank. You can start your day by taking the train to the fetching town of Santa Margherita Ligure. There you can find reasonably priced coffee and fabulous focaccia. From the ferry terminal, nearby to Frati Cappuccini and Villa Durazzo, you can catch a passenger ferry to Portofino. Taking a bus or just walking are other options. The views from the boat are quite memorable though.

you don't need a yacht to enjoy Portofino

Once in Portofino, you might still find some more reasonably priced food or beverage further from the water. Portofino has some fun sights to explore like: Castello Brown, Faro di Portofino (lighthouse), the church of Saint George and its cemetery, and more. There's a small public beach not far from Castello Brown as well.

fabulous vistas come free in a town where most things cost twice as much as elsewhere

I really enjoyed seeing and exploring Portofino as a day trip. Castello Brown is lovely and the views are fantastic. The hike to the Faro lighthouse is easy and fun in dry weather. The church of Saint George and the cemetery are free attractions with stunning views. The ferry ride itself is a fun way to get there and back. I've heard that there are nice trails for hiking in the area as well.

This distinguished artist did a live concert here as well.

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Sestri Levante

 

It might not be as well traveled as nearby Portofino or the Cinque Terre. However, Sestri Levante is a beautiful and relaxing place to visit.

Even the well known Danish author Hans Christian Andersen had some eloquent words to share about it. "What a fairy-tale evening did I spend in Sestri Levante!

The inn was very close to the sea, and a strong undertow lapped against it;

clouds in the sky were crimson red and the mountains were sparkling in the brightest colours.

The trees themselves were like gigantic fruit baskets, full of rich bunches of grapes."

Strolling the town, relaxing on the beach, or perhaps grabbing something to eat or drink at the café of the Grand Hotel Dei Castelli and exploring the grounds are a few of many ideas for passing the time here.

Springtime in Sestri Levante is very nice. It's great walking and exploring weather. I really enjoyed the views of the bays, the lack of crowds, and enjoying coffee and focaccia bread. I think if I had more time here I would have gone for a swim in each bay and then dried off in the sun. Maybe I would have figured out their local bike share system or explored the castle grounds. I have heard that there are good mountain biking and hiking trails nearby as well. If I return it'd be great to try some of the recommended restaurants with their local cuisine as well. What would you like to do in this peaceful and stunning location?

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If you'd like more inspiration for your own travels then please check out my YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@havecarryonwilltravel or Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/havecarryonwilltravel/ .

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  John 3:16 ✝

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Monterosso al Mare

Monterosso al Mare is one of the Cinque Terre and a worthy home base for exploring the area. It has a lot to offer: beaches, hiking, great restaurants, a nice old town, and amazing views. You can blast through on a day trip but if you spend more time you will have a lot to discover, and it might just grow on you. It's rather easy to travel nearby by boat, train, or your own two feet.

The beaches at Monterosso are the best in the Cinque Terre. They offer wide stretches of sand that is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, water sports, or enjoying food and beverage by the sea. It is also known for its exquisite food. You can find a number of restaurants that serve traditional Ligurian cuisine. Take your pick from dishes such as pasta with pesto, focaccia, and seafood linguine.

lemons, vines and olive trees greet you as you walk 

care for a hike?

Hiking is an epic way to explore the area. The trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is challenging but rewards the diligent with sublime views. It's best to do that hike early or later in the day to avoid the crowds. Later in the day in the spring one does not even need a trail pass.

The trails take you through vineyards, olive groves, and forests, and they offer spectacular views of the villages, coast, and the sea. Practical considerations include: only hike when dry, make sure you are fit enough, take plenty of water and sunscreen, proper footwear (no flip flops), a small first aid kit, and be sure to use the restroom before you leave the village. If you take your time and are careful you will create some wonderful memories!

it only takes minutes to find a marvelous view

my reflections

Personally, I found Monterosso al Mare an excellent home base for exploring Liguria and even some train trips into Tuscany as well. I might be a little biased after spending about three weeks there, in the spring of 2023, but it was my favorite out of the Cinque Terre. All five villages are unique and have their own charms for sure though.

Some of the highlights in Monterosso for me were (in no particular order):

• Hikes that were not the well traveled hikes (Punta Mesco, valley of lemons, other less traveled areas, random trail with Termine sign)
• Food and coffee (focaccia, pasta, gelato, pizza, pastries, cappuccino, espresso macchiato, and more) 
• Wine tasting (Buranco has a lovely location and at least for me as a non-expert it was a great tasting with appetizers) 
• Swimming (swimming in spring is a bit cold, but fun and refreshing) 
• Sunrises and sunsets
• People, dogs, and cats that I interacted with (solo travel can at times be lonely) 
• Lots of small details (that I would not normally see in the Seattle area)

If you enjoyed this please support my work - https://bmc.link/havecarryonwilltravel . Thank you.

If you'd like more inspiration for your own travels then please check out my YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@havecarryonwilltravel or Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/havecarryonwilltravel/ .

P.S. This blog uses some affiliate links so that I can keep bringing you great independent content.

 

  John 3:16 ✝

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