Spotlight on the Cinque Terre

Check out David’s awesome pictures from the Best of Italy and Essence of Italy tours on the Exploring Europe Facebook page and on Instagram. Keep reading to find out more about our second destination.

The Cinque Terre

The rugged coastline of Liguria is peppered with small fishing villages, terraced vineyards, olive groves, and breathtaking vistas. Although the area has become quite a tourist destination in recent years, you’ll find the local folks still attached to their age-old customs and traditions. Today we are exploring the Cinque Terre.

The Cinque Terre—or “five lands”—is a loose-knit group of villages on Italy’s northern Ligurian Sea. For centuries the people here have etched out a living from the land and the sea. Castles were erected in the Middle Ages to protect the local land baron and his serfs. It was not uncommon during this era for raiders and pirates to kidnap locals and sell them into slavery or hold them for ransom. During the Renaissance and beyond, the villagers became more independent and began to forge out a living centered on fishing, vines, and olives. They constructed hundreds of miles of terraced gardening spots, all held in place by free-standing stone walls.

After settling into your hotel, you’ll have time to get out and explore your “home” village. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the water. Visit the local grocer and stock up on your picnic supplies. Cap off the day with a digestif or glass of wine while enjoying the moonlight glimmering off the rippling Mediterranean waters. To read about the many activities and attractions the Cinque Terre has to offer, click here.

Join David in Italy in September

Ready to kick back, relax and enjoy the Cinque Terre? Join David on the Essence of Italy or Best of Italy tour in September. Sign up now and take $500 off the original price.