Italy’s famous Cinque Terre was hit hard by flooding in the autumn of 2011. As the 2012 season approaches, the two worst affected towns of Vernazza and Monterosso, plus some of the walking tracks, are still under repair. But the people of this Italian Riviera drawcard are working hard to recover from the disaster, and it won’t be long before they are all fully back to business. There’s no reason to delete Cinque Terre from your Italian visit itinerary.
Cinque Terre Open for Business
Despite some track closures, which occur for maintenance at the best of times, there are various ways of getting around Cinque Terre. To cover the area well in a limited time period takes a little planning, all the more so as the region recovers from the floods. If spending a few days exploring the UNESCO World Heritage site’s diverse attractions, consider the town of Levanto as your base. Set a little apart but a fine Riviera destination in itself, Levanto delivers a welcome change of pace after a day on the busy Cinque Terre trail.
If travelling south from Genoa, Levanto is a particularly convenient base, located just to the north of the national park boundary and right on its own spacious beach. On the hills behind town, olive groves and vineyards are interspersed with tiny villages to form a picturesque backdrop. In addition to the accommodation in town, a small number of family-run establishments operate on the outskirts. Take B&B Vignola for instance. Set amongst the olive groves, it’s a little way from town, but that’s part of the attraction. Tranquil rural Liguria is just the ticket for a recharge after a day’s sightseeing, before the next adventure to come.
Boutique Accommodation in the Ligurian Countryside
The friendly proprietors at B&B Vignola offer excellent short-say accommodation, and they serve up a great breakfast that starts the day just right. For visitors without vehicles, the walk to town is all downhill, 20 minutes to Levanto Station. But there’s always the likelihood of a free ride, and on first arrival, or returning at the end of a busy day on the trail, €10 buys the short taxi trip.
From Levanto the Cinque Terre train departs regularly, stopping at each of the five villages (currently subject to closures due to the 2011 flooding), before going on to La Spezia, the first city to the south. The Cinque Terre Card is the convenient way to go, as it includes access to the available walks between villages, for which there is a fee. To avoid the railway station queues, cards can be purchased from some local businesses and the Levanto Visitor Centre, which is located at the seaside end of Corso Roma.
Getting Around Cinque Terre
There is a walking track from Levanto to Monterosso, the most northerly of Cinque Terre's five towns. But with lots of exploring to do, that’s only for the seriously dedicated hiker. Best for most visitors to use a mix of rail and water transport, mapping out a programme that allows each village to be visited over a two or three day period, using each of the main trails between them as available. For the more energetic, there are alternative tracks further inland, which wind among the orchards and offer spectacular views.
Before setting out at any time, but particularly as Cinque Terre returns to normal business, it is advisable to discuss intentions with your accommodation provider or the Tourist Office. The important thing to know is – there are plenty of options for exploring and enjoying the region.
Getting around by one route way or another, a day in Cinque Terre is an amazing destination experience even under current constraints. Back at B&B Vignola, take time to relax over a local Ligurian wine, and share stories of your adventure with fellow travellers.
Brian Cross - Brian is a feelance writer specialising in content for the corporate sector, based in Wellington, New Zealand.
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