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Which Cinque Terre town to skip?

You have to skip Corniglia situated on top of a cliff 100 metres above sea level. If you are limited on time, take the train between the villages.



If you are short on time and must "skip" one of the five Cinque Terre towns, the most common recommendation is to skip Corniglia. This is not because it lacks beauty, but because it is the only town without direct sea access and is the most difficult to reach. Unlike its neighbors, which sit right at the water's edge, Corniglia is perched on a high cliff; to get to the village center from the train station, you must climb the "Lardarina"—a brick staircase with 382 steps. While there is a shuttle bus, the extra logistics often make it the "odd one out" for day-trippers. However, if you prefer a quieter, more authentic atmosphere away from the massive cruise ship crowds found in Monterosso or Vernazza, Corniglia is actually the one you shouldn't skip. It is the smallest and least-visited village, offering a "sleepy" charm that the more "instagrammable" towns have lost. Ultimately, if you want the classic "colorful harbor" photos, Corniglia is the most logical omission, but if you want peaceful views and local life, it's a hidden gem.

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Corniglia is the only one of the five Cinque Terre towns that isn't a fishing town and you need to walk up around 365 steps to get there. That puts most people off and means that Corniglia is the Cinque Terre town with the fewest tourists.

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5 Towns of Cinque Terre Ranked
  1. Vernazza. Best Village for Couple Travel. ...
  2. Manarola. Best Village for Hikers. ...
  3. Monterossa. Best village for family travel. ...
  4. Riomaggiore. Best Village for Younger and Solo Travelers. ...
  5. Corniglia. Best Village for Mediterranean Views.


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Manarola has brightly painted houses, priceless medieval relics and a tiny harbour that features a boat ramp and a swimming hole; to the north, on the way to Corniglia, there's a stunning viewpoint (Punta Bonfiglio) where visitors can enjoy a drink in a bar between the village's cemetery and the sea.

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Town #1: Riomaggiore This was not a good start to our day. The trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola is called Via dell'Amore. When it is open, it is flat and easy to walk. However, it frequently closes due to landslides.

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Monterosso - Fegina beach In Monterosso, there are two long beaches with sand and pebbles, Fegina beach being the most famous one, in the new town.

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Corniglia is the smallest and quietest of the Cinque Terre villages. It is located 100 meters above sea level, on top of a small promontory. Houses are a bit different here, smaller and wider, similar to the houses of the villages inland.

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The five villages of cinque terre include Monterosso al Mare (the biggest), Vernazza (normally considered the prettiest), Corniglia (up high on the cliffs), Manarola and Riomaggiore.

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There are basically three ways to move from one village to another; you either walk, take the train or the boat. The walking trail is 12 kilometers and runs along the coast through all five villages from Riomaggiore in the south to Monterosso in the north.

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Head out on this 1.2-mile point-to-point trail near Riomaggiore, Liguria. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 5 min to complete.

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Riomaggiore is a village and commune in the province of La Spezia, situated in a small valley in the Liguria region of Italy. It is the first of the Cinque Terre villages one encounters when travelling north from La Spezia.

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Manarola is a city in Liguria, Italy. It has many popular attractions, including Cinque Terre, Manarola, Borgo Storico di Manarola, making it well worth a visit.

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Manarola may be the oldest of the towns in the Cinque Terre, with the cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dating from 1338. Sunset lights up the bell tower in front of San Lorenzo Church. Manarola old houses are like fortress walls that, in ancient times, meant to protect the village from pirates attacks.

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