Are you looking for ideas for the Easter weekend? The Cinque Terre are the ideal place to spend a long weekend full of beautiful villages, a wonderful sea and mouth-watering Ligurian flavours. For this year I recommend an itinerary that I followed myself, a couple of years ago, when I went to these UNESCO heritage sites at Easter.
Our trip to the Cinque Terre started from La Spezia, where we based ourselves in a camper area, a practical and economical solution for getting around without stress. We chose the train for travel, taking advantage of the advantages of the Cinque Terre Train Card which includes unlimited second class travel on regional trains on the Levanto – Cinque Terre – La Spezia route.
The train is the most convenient way to reach the villages, avoiding traffic and complicated parking, but above all difficult to reach. But not only that: it is also the most fascinating way to get to the Cinque Terre. At a certain point at the end of the tunnel, in fact, out of nowhere you see a breathtaking landscape of the sea appear from the window. An experience truly not to be missed, with everyone letting go of a collective “oooh” of amazement (and you won’t be able to help it either).
Day 1: Monterosso, Vernazza and Manarola
In a few minutes we arrived in Monterosso, the largest of the five towns, immediately welcomed by the wide beach of Fegina and the crystal clear sea. After a walk along the seafront – an inevitable test of the water temperature, still a little too chilly to risk a swim but there was no shortage of the more adventurous who tried – we entered the colorful alleys, among artisan shops and typically Ligurian views.
We then took the train back and arrived in Vernazza, with an immediate view of the small port: colorful houses, a small square on the sea and the church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia which dominates the village which was able to rise splendidly after the terrible flood of 2011. Here you can see the locations of the Pixar film again Lucaset right in Vernazza.
After a short photo stop and a stroll through the alleys, we took the train back to Manarola, perfect for ending the day. Here we walked along the cliff enjoying one of the most beautiful sunsets of the trip, with the colors of the houses reflecting on the water.
Day 2: Panoramic Corniglia and Riomaggiore between alleys and sea
On the second day we left again by train from La Spezia towards Corniglia, the only village in the Cinque Terre without direct access to the sea. To reach the center we faced the Lardarina staircase, 377 steps which are challenging (and for this reason it is better to do them in the morning, when the sun is not yet beating down) but which offer an incredible view. Once at the top, the town proved to be quiet and authentic, with panoramic terraces and narrow alleys overlooking the blue.
After the visit we continued towards Riomaggiore, one of the most iconic villages. The colorful houses developed vertically and the small port create one of the most photographed scenarios of the Cinque Terre. We got lost among the streets until we reached the seaside area, perfect for taking the classic symbolic photos.
From here you can travel the Via dell’Amore, an exciting journey that has no equal in the world. A 900 meter path set in the rock of the cliff overlooking the sea that connects Riomaggiore and Manarola. Unfortunately for years this itinerary was closed and it was closed when we went too, but now after 12 years it has finally reopened and you just can’t miss it.
Day 3: short stop in Levanto before departure
On the last day, aware of having little time available before tackling the journey home, we decided to make a short visit to Levanto. Even though it is not part of the Cinque Terre, it is a gem to see. Reachable in a few minutes by train and with the same season ticket as the Cinque Terre, it is considered the gateway to the park and offers a quieter atmosphere.
We walked along the seafront, saw the wide beach and took a tour of the historic center among local squares and shops. Levanto was a quick but pleasant stop, perfect for concluding the journey without rushing before leaving again. The Cinque Terre are a place that is close to my heart, that I have seen several times but despite this they never cease to amaze and excite me and I can assure you: with the crystal clear sea, the colorful houses, the streets full of scents and life, they are one of the most beautiful places in the world that everyone envies us (and rightly so).
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