Since I lived in the province of La Spezia, it is time for me to speak of our treasures. The most famous is certainly the land called Cinque Terre. The name derives from the fact that their territory is made up of 5 countries. Going from La Spezia to Genoa you will find Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. These villages perched on steep slopes overlooking the sea. The only exception is Monterosso, the largest of the 5 that has a thin flat strip that ends with a beautiful beach. The economy of the Cinque Terre has always been based on two areas: fisheries and agriculture. It 's just the last one that has given rise to the spectacular scenery of the Cinque Terre in the wilderness merges with the work in human terraces overlooking the sea. Not for nothing the Cinque Terre have been declared World Heritage by UNESCO. The inhabitants of these places, in fact, have torn land to cultivate the mountain centimeter per centimeter. Do you think some terraces are so impervious that until a few years ago the harvest was done by boat because the only way to reach them was by sea. In recent years, thanks to economic performance given by local wines, the terraces, which in the 70 and 80 were still abandoned, were recovered and with the use of the monorail made more easily accessible. The creation of the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre has encouraged this process and has helped recover the towns and trails that unite them. Among these the most famous is certainly the Way of Love, a walk on a path paved and flat overlooking the sea that unites Manarola and Riomaggiore. The path then continues to Monterosso with difficulty gradually increasing.
Now I will give you some tips to enjoy fully the visit to this paradise.
First: How to get there. Liguria ripped from the sea every square meter of land and the Cinque Terre are the essence of Liguria and then do not plan to arrive by car to Vernazza and park safely. Monterosso aside, parking in the Cinque Terre is impossible. Even in Monterosso, however, parkings are reserved for residents. Then the car should be left to La Spezia and from there tyou can go by train to the first of 5 villages, Riomaggiore. You can buy the Cinque terre card at a price of 8 euros which includes a subscription to the daily train between Levanto and La Spezia (you can use the train as often as you want), the entrance to the Way of Love and the other walking, the use of the bus park and the entrance to the observation of nature centers and museums of the territory. The Card must be canceled at the station as a normal ticket and filled with your data on the back side. Remember that you are on vacation, relax, do not hurry and think that the best way to enjoy the places is to taste them gradually by walking.
The second point: the itinerary. Because now I have brought tens of Milanesi (my companion is from Milan) to see these places I have done my itinerary. Take the train from La Spezia and get off at Riomaggiore. Take a little walk in the town and then take up the Way of Love until yuo arrive in Manarola. Other little walk in the town and away again on the path to Corniglia. Corniglia between Riomaggiore and there are several areas equipped with tables and benches where you can stop for a picnic. If desired, in some places, you can also go down to the sea (beautiful) and, why not, take a dip. Arrived at the station of Corniglia if you want to visit the country you should take the bus of the Cinque Terre Park (by Gratis Card) to reach the country. Or you can make a few hundred steps. From the station you again for Corniglia Vernazza. Vernazza is, in my opinion, the most beautiful of the five villages. Descending from the station to the sea along the main street full of restaurants, souvenir shops and typical products to reach the square directly on the sea. Here you get the right church in the country and left the climb that will take you to small castle which dominates the country. E 'must visit them both. From the castle has a breathtaking view. There still leave some 'time to visit Vernazza and Monterosso away to, of course, always by train. I forgot to say that transfers between train in one location and another lasting up to 5 minutes and then it's like taking a bus. The village of Monterosso is a po 'staccato than the station. After getting off the train you are now facing the beach at Monterosso about 1 km long. To get to town you have to go left (towards La Spezia) and go through the old railway tunnel which is now pedestrian. Even in Monterosso you can find very nice shops and a flood of restaurants.
Step Three: where to sleep. Cinque Terre at a great hotel rooms 20-30 and then I find a place for you to book well in advance. However, there are many alternatives. B & b, guest farms and landlords have erupted like mushrooms in recent years and you can contact the APT Cinque Terre and the Gulf of Poets (www.aptcinqueterre.sp.it/) to find them. If you find an accommodation to the Cinque Terre my advice is to come directly by train. The alternative is to find a hotel in nearby locations. Genoa to try to Levanto, Sestri Levante and Chiavari on the other side there is La Spezia and the whole Val Di Magra (Sarzana first). Do not underestimate also the possibility of finding a farmhouse in Val di Vara which is the immediate hinterland of the Cinque Terre and that will give you an unspoiled (hey, is called "the valley of organic").
What can we say more? Good journey, and if you need any other information let me a whistle!