Riomaggiore

I traveled to Riomaggiore by train in the morning, one day in late April 2023, from my home base of Monterosso Al Mare.  I arrived pretty early, around 9am, while there was still good morning light for photography and before a lot of tourists were out.  I didn't have much of an agenda.  I just wanted to explore, hike around a bit, and do film and digital photography.

Exploring the town with the many little pedestrian side streets is fun.  Good shoes are recommended of course because of the amount of steps.

The morning light was wonderful and it was nice and peaceful without a lot of folks there in town yet.

(film photo from an Olympus Trip 35)

There were fun little details to be enjoyed like the clothes hanging from clothes lines, rusty postal signs, the morning light striking the buildings and streets just right.

(another film photo)

One doesn't have to walk too far to find stunning views.  This can either be by getting your heart rate up and hiking up by the cemetery or just finding a level coastal path.  Especially in the spring time with the flowers in bloom the vistas can be quite something!

The small harbor and view points could be what you've already seen in photos but seem so much more impactful in person.

There are nice little sights in the town including the church (Church of San Giovanni Battista), a small tower, the harbor, etc...

(another film photo)

I hope that you've enjoyed this short overview of one of the Cinque Terre towns.  Have you been there before or plan to visit?  Feel free to say hello in the comments.  Ciao.

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  John 3:16 ✝

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Manarola and Corniglia

The two smallest towns of the Cinque Terre are fun to visit.  If you take the train you can easily see both, depending on what you'd like to do.  Some even try to cram all five into one day but I don't recommend it, if you would like to take your time and enjoy exploring.  Also, if you're ambitious you can tackle the hike between the two towns (I haven't tried this one yet myself).

Corniglia is a cute little town.  From the train station it has a lot of steps up to the town.  There's also a road that winds up to the town a bit more gradually.  Be safe either way you choose!  There's also a shuttle or taxi if you prefer.  At the top of the stairs in Corniglia, you'll find a nice restaurant with decent pesto, outdoor seating with some shade and a nice view.

There are some really nice views to be had as you explore Corniglia.  The small pedestrian streets, a couple squares, and the church are also some highlights.

Manarola was probably my favorite out of the two.  It also has excellent views, a small harbor, and a panoramic vineyard trail.

The trail was one of the highlights for me.  It wasn't crowded.  The views were amazing and it was a nice peaceful walk as well.

The churches and cemeteries are interesting spots to visit.  Depending on the weather and the waves you can check out the small harbor for swimming as well.  The Punta Bonfiglio is a good spot for taking in the amazing sights.

I hope that you enjoyed this short overview of these pleasant towns.  Feel free to drop a comment with any thoughts, questions, or if you feel like sharing your travel dreams or plans.  Ciao.

If you enjoyed this please consider supporting 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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Vernazza and the hike to Monterosso al Mare

Vernazza is a beautiful town in the Cinque Terre.  It can get quite busy during the day but if you come in the morning or later in the day you'll find less people typically.  A lot of folks come during the day either by train or by boat.  I went there a couple times during my trip in the spring of 2023.  Once I went late in the afternoon, around 4 pm, to do the hike from there to Monterosso al Mare (more on that below).  The other time I came back in the morning to visit the helpful Poste Italiane office and then I grabbed a good breakfast as well at Il Pirata delle 5 Terre.

Vernazza is a quick train trip from the other Cinque Terre towns like Monterosso, and not too far from other nearby towns like Levanto.  My choice for a home base was Monterosso al Mare.

The town has nice sites like: the quaint Church of St. Margaret of Antioch, the small beach and marina area, the Doria tower / castle, as well as exploring shops and restaurants.  I would imagine that if one stayed in a rental or hotel here that you might get a better sense of its charms in the morning or evening when it's less busy.

Amazing views can be had if you're willing to tackle some stairs and explore the little side streets.  Views like this one below for example!

The hike from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare is challenging but stunning views are waiting for those who persevere the rocky trail.  Of course it's good to do it when it's not too hot.  It's a memorable hike but best to be prepared and only go when it's dry as there's lots of rocks.  Late in the day in the spring you might not need a park pass.  I did not need one in 2023 late in the day in springtime.  No flip flops are allowed and it's about 2 hours long.

vineyards near Monterosso al Mare

The hike was quite fun for me even though it was challenging.  I just made sure I was careful but also enjoyed moments along the way to take some digital and film photos.  The postal office in Vernazza helped me mail back my exposed film to the USA by the way.

When you reach the end you might just opt to have some fresh focaccia at one of the best places around - Il Frantoio.  I hope that you enjoyed this short overview of Vernazza and one of the hikes available in that 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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