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Cinque Terre

If you're looking for an adventure, I highly recommend visiting Cinque Terre, one of Italy's most breathtaking regions. With Great Rail Journeys, you can book a trip to Cinque Terre and experience the stunning scenery and vibrant culture of this area. Cinque Terre is comprised of five small towns - Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore - each with its own unique charm and character. These towns are nestled into the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and the stunning views are reason enough to make the journey here. Additionally, Great Rail Journeys can help you explore the network of hiking trails that wind their way through the hillsides, offering breathtaking views of the coastline. The region is also known for its fresh seafood, homemade pesto, and delicious pasta dishes, making it a must-visit for foodies. So, if you're looking for an adventure that combines stunning scenery, vibrant culture, and delicious food, book a trip to Cinque Terre with Great Rail Journeys.

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Monterosso al Mare

The largest and most popular of the five towns, Monterosso al Mare has a wide, sandy beach and a lively atmosphere. The town is split into two sections: the old town, with narrow streets and colourful houses, and the new town, which has more modern amenities. Monterosso al Mare is known for its seafood restaurants and its anchovies, which are a local specialty.

Vernazza

Considered by many to be the most picturesque of the five towns, Vernazza has a small harbour surrounded by colourful houses and a castle perched on a hilltop overlooking the sea. The town is home to several seafood restaurants and shops selling local crafts and souvenirs. Vernazza is also known for its wine - the local grape, called Bosco, produces a sweet white wine that is unique to the region.

Corniglia

The only town that is not directly on the coast, Corniglia is perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. To reach the town, visitors must climb a long staircase from the train station. Once there, you'll find narrow streets, small shops, and a quiet, laid-back atmosphere. Corniglia is known for its views - from the town, you can see all the way down the coast to the other four towns of Cinque Terre.

Manarola

With its brightly coloured houses perched on a rocky cliff above the sea, Manarola is one of the most recognizable towns in Cinque Terre. The town is known for its wine, especially its Sciacchetrà dessert wine, and its seafood dishes. Manarola is also home to the Lover's Walk, a path that winds along the cliffs overlooking the sea and offers stunning views of the town and the surrounding countryside.

Riomaggiore

The easternmost town of Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore is home to a small harbour, colourful houses, and a castle that offers panoramic views of the town and the sea. Riomaggiore is known for its wine and its seafood, and it's a popular destination for swimming and sunbathing. The town is also home to the Via dell'Amore, or "Lover's Lane," a short path that leads to Manarola and offers beautiful views of the sea.

The Food of Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is a region of Italy that is well-known for its stunning coastal scenery, vibrant culture, and delicious food. As a coastal region, seafood is a major part of the local cuisine, with fresh fish, squid, octopus, and mussels being popular choices that are often served grilled, fried, or in hearty stews.

Another iconic dish from Cinque Terre is pesto, a fragrant sauce made with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. The pesto from Cinque Terre is considered some of the best in the region due to the high quality of the local basil and olive oil.

Pasta dishes are also a staple of the Cinque Terre diet, with a wide variety of shapes and styles to choose from. Trofie is a classic Ligurian pasta that's often served with pesto, green beans, and potatoes. Trenette is a long, flat pasta that's delicious with seafood sauces.

Focaccia is another type of food that's a specialty of Liguria. The focaccia in Cinque Terre is often topped with olive oil, rosemary, and sea salt, and it's the perfect snack to enjoy while exploring the towns.

Finally, wine is an important part of the Cinque Terre culinary experience. The Ligurian region is known for its crisp and refreshing white wines, which are perfect for pairing with seafood and pasta dishes. The local wine grape is called Bosco, and it's used to make a variety of white wines, including the sweet Sciacchetrà dessert wine.

Overall, the food of Cinque Terre is fresh, flavourful, and deeply connected to the region's land and sea. Whether you're sampling fresh seafood, enjoying a plate of pasta, or savouring a glass of local wine, you're sure to have a delicious and memorable culinary experience in this stunning corner of Italy.

1 result matching: Escorted Rail Tours to Cinque Terre

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The Italian Riviera
Save up to £150pp
The Italian Riviera
4.0 stars(114 reviews)
2024AprMayJunJulAug...
10 days from
£1,995 pp £1,945 pp
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Save up to £150pp
10 days from
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Our customers love our Cinque Terre tours
The Italian Riviera
23/Sep
customer
4 stars
“This was a lovely rail holiday, without a doubt. It was unfortunate that on the outbound leg there was a landslide in the Alps near Chambery, resulting in a coach trip from Lyon to Turin instead of a train trip direct from Paris. The landslide was obviously not the fault of Great Rail, however it seems that the coach driver made their own decision to drive across the Alps rather than through the Mont Blanc tunnel, as we had originally been advised. This resulted in a six hour journey, instead of four! On our very late arrival in Turin, the driver took a wrong turning, resulting in us all ending up a long way from the hotel, and the driver being totally unwilling to do anything about it. Our tour manager, Lynn, who was absolutely brilliant throughout the whole trip, organised taxis to get us to our hotel. Hopefully the landslide will be cleared soon so future travellers will not have to go through this experience. Our main criticism, however, is that although the Hotel Due Mari in Sestri Levante, where we were based for 7 nights was ok, the evening meals were very poor. This seems to be a problem mentioned in many other reviews, and Great Rail seems to have disregarded this so far. The excursions from Sestri Levante were well organised and excellent, and our tour manager always set our expectations. Our return trip went as planned and our overnight stay in Saint Raphäel instead of Nice (hotels fully booked due to the Rugby World Cup) was a bonus. The hotel, dinner and breakfast in Saint Raphäel were excellent. The train up to Paris was extremely comfortable, as were the outward and return Eurostar journeys.
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