Why is it called 5 Terre?

The Cinque Terre (Italian pronunciation: ['t?i?kwe 't?rre], meaning Five Lands) is a coastal area within Liguria, in the northwest of Italy. It lies in the west of La Spezia Province, and comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.



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The Cinque Terre is made up of five villages on Italy's Ligurian coast. Not only is the entire region a national park, but it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The natural beauty of this rugged coastline is unmatched and draws visitors from all over the world.

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Shopping and prices The Cinque Terre is not cheap. As everywhere in the world, tourism has raised prices. I often go to the market of La Spezia to shop for food, it's much cheaper than the stores of the villages. In restaurants, you have to expect Western European prices.

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You can walk the entire route in about six hours, if you take short breaks—although many hikers prefer to spread the route out over a few days at a strolling pace, stopping to enjoy the towns along the way. You can start from either direction (Monterosso, heading south, or Riomaggiore, heading north).

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The Amalfi Coast is home to lavish 5-star hotels and international jet-setters. Plus it's possible to reach the beautiful island of Capri, sample pizza in its home of Naples, and visit Pompeii. Cinque Terre is more laid-back, suited to those who adore hiking and photography.

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You can swim in the beautiful blue water of Cinque Terre from May until October. All along the coastal line there are rocky outcrops, harbour quays and sloping pebble beaches covered with eager bodies basking in the sun or enjoying a cooling swim in the clear water.

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And they mean business.

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Luckily, the Cinque Terre villages sit right on the Ligurian Sea (which, in case you didn't already know, is a part of the Mediterranean) so it's easy to take a dip and cool off.

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Two to three days would allow you to enjoy its beaches and discover the culture via a cooking class. And with four to five days, you could get to know every inch of Cinque Terre on boat trips, hikes of the surrounding mountains, and even make an extra trip to historic Genoa.

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Of course you can find some hotels in the Cinque Terre villages, mainly in Monterosso, but the number of rooms is limited. There is no space for new constructions or big buildings, which is good because the villages have already too many visitors.

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Overtourism in a fragile area Fabrizia Pecunia, the mayor of Riomaggiore, came up with the new plan for the 3,215- foot-long path to combat overtourism. Last year, about three million tourists visited Cinque Terre, a fragile national park. In contrast, there are fewer than 4,000 residents left in the area.

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Overtourism is a growing phenomenon that our own research indicates affects almost 100 destinations around the world so far, but there are few places in Europe where the problem is so clearly visible as Cinque Terre, on Italy's resplendent Ligurian coast.

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Atrani is a relatively undiscovered spot when it comes to tourist destinations on the Amalfi Coast. You won't find many tourists on vacation in this village, so you'll be able to immerse yourself in positively Italian culture.

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Cost. Visiting Cinque Terre should be cheaper than the Amalfi Coast. Of course, so much depends on your choices – how you travel around, where and how long you stay, which restaurants you dine at, etc. But in general, the Amalfi Coast is a much more expensive destination than Cinque Terre.

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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.

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