Cinque Terre National Park was established in 1999 and is one of the smallest Italian Parks even if it is one of the most inhabited. It includes 9,500 acres of nature and over 4,000 locals who live in the five renowned villages of the so called Cinque Terre district: Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso al Mare and Manarola.
It is a very typical place to visit in Italy due to the its landscapes: you can enjoy a perfect sunset while walking among the hidden paths in the rocky walls overlooking the sea. This is the reason why it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
How to reach the Cinque Terre National Park
It is possible to reach the Cinque Terre National Park by car, train, public transports and plane, too.
If you came from abroad, surely the airplane will be your first choice. The nearest airports are Pisa, Genoa and Milan ones. Pisa airport is about 74 miles away from Cinque Terre, Genoa 62 miles and Milan 139 miles. If you choose this solution, you should proceed by car, train or public transports after you have landed in one of these airports.
It is possible to rent a car just out of the main airports. Also, you can book it online or ask for a renting car company. The best way to reach the Cinque Terre National Park by car is the highway. Take the exit La Spezia or Carrodano, and than follow the road signals to Levanto and Le Cinque Terre.
The train is one of the most suitable travelling solution if you want to experience the real slow Italian lifestyle. There is a train station in each one of the five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Riomaggiore and Manarola. Also, they are all well connected with the most important train stations of the surrounding Regions, especially those on the Pisa-Genova railway line. Form more information about the daily runs you can visit Trenitalia website and plan your journey by your own.
At least, it is possible to reach the five villages of the district by ferry. You can take it from Lerici, La Spezia or Portovenere. Also, the five villages are all connected each other by inner navigation lines.
Useful to know: you can buy the Cinque Terre card if you plan to have several runs by train or ferry, during your stay. This is one of the two cards established in 2001 by the Cinque Terre National Park in order to preserve the territory thanks to the proceeds deriving from its sales. It allows you to take all the trains that connect the five villages and to visit the National Park, too.
What to see in Cinque Terre National Park
Surely, the five villages are the main attraction for tourists. Each one has its own peculiarity, from architecture to food traditions. They all offer unforgettable views and pleasant moments of relax on the beach but these are not the only things you can see in the Cinque Terre National Park.
Beyond the five most famous villages, there are some other destinations as interesting as these ones. For example, you can have a day trip in Levanto.
It is a small village set in a strategic position on the Levante Riviera and this is the reason why it is considered the best place where to book an hotel. Also,It has very good climate conditions both in the summer and the winter time and it is perfectly connected with the main airports and with all the five villages of the Cinque Terre, both by train and by the walking paths of the Park.
These are not the only reasons why to visit Levanto. Its historical center is also famous for the beautiful buildings from the Renaissance period and for the typical, colorful fisherman houses set in front of the see. Also, its beaches are famous between sea sport passionate. If you like to surf, this is the ideal place in all the Cinque Terre National Park.
If you like trekking and hiking, you can choose one of the 48 official paths that run the park for about 74 miles, and enjoy the incredible natural beauties of this place from the top. These walking itineraries are opened to tourists and skilled people, so you can choose the one that suits with your training status. These paths were the original streets that connected the five villages in the ancient times so, you can start your walking tour from everyone of the five villages.
