"Riomaggiore and the Cinque Terre " a Riomaggiore Travel Page by endzoearth

Cinque Terre, which means "Five Lands," consists of five small villages perched upon the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. These five villages, in order from southeast to northwest are: Rio Maggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. They are virtually untouched by tourism and the excessive rumbling of diesel-powered automobiles, making them a very peaceful and pleasant place to visit. Cinque Terre is a national park and reserve, laced with hiking trails throughout. Travel between the villages is possible by train or by footpath. The footpaths range in both length and difficulty, from a simple 15 minute walk from Rio Maggiore to Manarola, to difficult walks lasting over an hour or two between the other villages. The scenery is simply breathtaking, and if you choose to walk the footpaths, you will find yourself wanting to stop and take pictures around every turn!