Creating the perfect tourist attraction – Cinque Terre Photo Essay
If you are a tourism board and want to create the perfect tourist attraction then follow these easy steps:
- Find a remote inaccessible location in the northwest of Italy.
- Make sure the location is facing into the setting sun.
- In your new location build a tiny village of terraced houses onto the cliffs above the shockingly colourful turquoise sea.
- Paint these houses every bright colour of the rainbow.
- Repeat until you have five villages within a few miles of one another.
- Invite Lonely Planet to come and visit.
- Sit back, rub your hands together as you watch the tourists arrive in their thousands.
The problem with Cinque Terre is that it is too damn cute for it’s own good.
Since Lonely Planet “discovered” the Cinque Terre area the tourist hordes have descended on the tiny villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, in the northwest of Italy. Every tourist wanders all, or pieces, of the same hiking trail happily taking thousands of holiday photos home to show their friends and families their exciting adventures.
We decided to join the phenomenon and these are our favourite Cinque Terre photos.
Vernazza as seen from the harbour.
Rock giant carved into the cliffs above the beach at Monterosso al Mare.
The colourful village of Vernazza as seen from above.
Monterosso al Mare from the hot and sweaty hiking trail on the way to Vernazza.
The locals livelihoods used to come from the sea and slopes. Now they come from the tourist hordes.
Along the shoreline looking towards Manarola.
Corniglia is situated smack in the middle of Cinque Terre and looks as if it has been painted upon a clifftop canvas.
Risked life and limb to capture this shot out on the water near Riomaggiore.
Where to stay in Cinque Terre – Le Sirene, Monterosso
The five villages of Cinque Terre are really small so while you used to be able to show up and book a place that day it is usually no longer feasible due to its new found popularity. We found stayed at Le Sirene in the slightly larger, albeit more touristy, town of Monterosso al Mare.
Location
If you are coming from Rome it is the furthest of the five villages in Cinque Terre. However, accessibility is fine with local trains every 15 minutes to all the other towns. A perfect location to start you hike along the Cinque Terre trail.
The Rooms
Our room was private with one double bed and a bunk bed. And although very basic we did have our own bathroom and a small balcony to enjoy a glass of vino at the end of the day.
Other Amenities
Unfortunately there were no other amenities. It was really disappointing that we didn’t have WiFi or even a place to prepare a bit of food each day.
Staff
We only saw the owner, who was extremely lovely, when we checked in. So while we have no complaints, we don’t have a lot to say either.
Social Atmosphere
There was no social atmosphere at all. Although this was expected as there is no common areas or places to chill out apart from on the beach.
Cost
$80 Euro for a private room for two people.
Overall
As a Bed and Breakfast we expected a wee bit more. In saying that, we were there to hike the Cinque Terre and relax on the beach afterwards so Le Sirene definitely fit the bill for that. Especially as Monterosso is the only village with a beach in Cinque Terre. If they would just offer WiFi, even a paid service, then they would go way up our accommodation rankings.
Disclaimer: We were guests of HostelWorld but as always our thoughts are always our own.
Category: Europe
Perhaps the phrase “postcard perfect” was coined here…
Hard to believe that in my many trips to Italy I’ve not managed to make it here. Ah well, another reason to go back! Great shots – love the one of the boat prow close up in particular
Your beautiful photos are not helping with the over crowding…now all the other people who don’t have Lonely Planet guides will be arriving!
Beautiful photos!! You’re never going to be able to keep the tourists away from somewhere like that, though. I guess you’ve just got to suck it up and join them.
Yep, we “wandered” the entire hiking trail between the five cities, and let me tell you. It was brutal – I’ve never climbed so many stairs in my life!! Thank god the views and gelato in each city made the hike worth it in the end.
Looks gorgeous! I haven’t gotten to Cinque Terre yet, but I know I will someday!
This is such a great idea. I hope to follow in your footsteps soon enough.
I did a 3-week tour of Italy with the Atlanta Boy Choir when I was 11, and I think this may be the only major Italian tourist attraction we DIDN’T see. Looks lovely, especially the colors of the buildings and water. Nice shots!
As pretty as I imagine it to be. Haven’t been yet – am worried a bit that it will be too crowded but the walking/hiking part of seeing the towns really appeals to me.
Beautiful! And, as you say, perfect location to use as a base camp for hiking the Cinque Terre trail…something I didn’t do when I was in Italy back in 2009 and hope to do sometime in the future!
Great stuff. Thanks for sharing!
I loved the Cinque Terre. I spent a lot of time in Vernazza but didn’t get out and explore more as I would have liked. I would have loved to hike between the villages. The last time I was there was years ago. It was very touristy then with lots of Americans. However, it still is a must see place. So glad to see they have been able to rebuild and recover after the devastating floods and rain.
I heart Cinque Terre. Spent 5 days there last year and loved it … so thanks for bringing back some great memories as well as sharing yours!
As always, your photos are lovely.
Looks like nice colorful town. If only you could add beach to this place – it would be just perfect.
That rock giant is amazing! How did they do that on such a large scale….
Beauty which my eyes could scarcely believe!!! Just so scenic. Loved the captures, dreamy!!
So gorgeous! Love your photos, especially that up close boat shot – super cool. I have been wanting to visit Cinque Terre for so long but maybe I should save it for a time when I have a nice gentleman to accompany me? Seems like a place that is too sexy & romantic to go alone.
Love that shot of all the boats lined up, such a pretty place. Cheers for sharing the pictures.
Beautiful pictures, I would love to swim in those waters!
Angela recently posted..Video: In Parco della Giara, where horses forgot to keep up with evolution
I have just one word to say: Amazing!!
Thanks
Such gorgeous pictures! I hope to make it there on my European Road Trip this fall!
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Let us know if you need any tips for visiting the area as it is absolutely gorgeous and a must-see in Europe. Just try to go when there are less crowds but make sure everything will stop be open. A fine line.
Nice click by your camera. Its true traveling also makes you a good photographer.
Thanks Tariq.
Photos look amazing, how many days would you recomend spending here?
You could do the whole walk in one day but we were there for 3 and it felt a bit more relaxed. Gives you time to chill out on the beach and do different walks each day.
Sooooo pretty. This is one place in Italy I definitely HAVE to go to!
Amanda recently posted..Photo of the Week: Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar
Make sure you stay a couple of days at least to experience it properly. Such a beautiful part of our world.
What I found disappointing about 5T and Liguria in general, is that just about every swimmable spot is crammed with boats. So, you end up swimming in water coated with motor oil unless you go to someplace like Lavagna. In Portofino, I saw a fisherman blatantly dump nasty bilge water in the bay. Maybe I have been spoiled by places like Dominica and Greece, but I don’t find the Italian Riveria to be anything that special. Even less so now that the tourist hordes have descended en masse. Of course, August is probably not a good time to go, but I did not have a choice there.
BTW, I believe it was Rick Steves who put 5T on the tourist horde radar.
Lovely pics though.
Cheers
Haven’t been to Greece or Dominica yet but hopefully will next year. Greece has been on our travel list for years so it is great to hear that it is more beautiful than the 5T’s
Greece is amazing. You can still find lovely and largely unspoiled and uncrowded beaches on any one of the hundreds of Greek Islands
The food and people are great too. Plus it is fun to island hop using the ferries and experience the uniqueness of each island, esp. the Dodecanese.
My favorite souvenirs of Cinque Terre are the beautiful granite rocks that washed along the shore of Monterosso al Mare.
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Spent a week here in September 2009. The weather was patchy, but I come from Melbourne soooo.., We stayed in Monterosso al Mare. It was one of the best weeks I have spent anywhere. The whole area is unbelieveably beautiful. Monterosso and Monterosso al Mare are amongst my favourite places and I’d head back in an instant!
It’s a beautiful part of Italy, but I much prefer nearby Lerici – it’s a wonderful bay, isn’t as overcrowded and still offers stunning views. It’s also a lot more affordable and in high season, priced. Still, you can’t really complain at Cinque Terre.
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Hadn’t heard of Lerici. Thanks for letting us know about it Marco
Will hopefully get a chance to explore it one day soon!
Gorgeous photos! We are headed to Italy for the first time this summer and I’m busy dreaming…
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I hope you make it to Cinque Terre then Dana because it was a dream destination! Did you see our other Italy posts? We had quite a few