This year, take advantage of Italy’s most beautiful and relaxing tourist destination—the Cinque Terre Beaches. The Cinque Terre is a ten-kilometer stretch on the Italian Riviera, located on the Mediterranean coastline. Specifically, this tiny paradise where land meets sea, is located in the Liguria region of Italy right between Florence and Genoa (known for pesto and foccacia dishes!) Its name means “the Five Lands,” and these are the villages of Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiora. Each intimate region is rich with its own tradition and dialect. These Five Lands are the perfect combination of real Italian culture and the natural landscape of the Mediterranean; because it is secluded from the more well-known Italian tourist sites, it is traffic-free, stress-free, and easy to find accommodation for. Its lack of visible corporate development allows for the perfect vacation and relaxation away from home. Due to the Cinque Terre’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this travel destination provides a unique opportunity for access to a pristine environment loaded with scenic hiking trails, authentic customs, food, and of course, wine.

Cinque Terre’s Best Beaches

The Monterosso al Mare is the most popular town out of the Five; it resembles a resort but has the added benefits of incorporating local, top-quality food and family-operated businesses. Monterosso al Mare actually has two beaches, and both the Old Town and Fegina beaches are tourist-friendly. Monterosso provides visitors with convenient eateries nearby, where anchovies are a specialty and seafood is always fresh. Its beaches feature pristine blue and green waters with calm waves that touch the open sand, where the sunbathers can relax and stroll through the promenade. The Blue Path begins here, and it can be taken in order to access the sea from any of the four towns.

Vernazza is known for its elegant and vibrantly coloured houses. It has a small sandy beach in the harbour that surrounds it as well as a laid-back beach covered with stones and pebbles to match the chapels located behind the cliff. It is less occupied than Monterosso’s beaches and provides a great chance to explore the natural scenery of Cinque Terre.

Corniglia is a reclusive village characterised by lush green mountainsides, narrow roads, and a terrace that you can see all other four towns from. The Guvano beach near Corniglia is nudist, quiet, private, and peaceful; and their gelato is made from delicious local honey.

Manarola is a petite, pastel town with buildings that look like they are built right on top of each other. This village is absolutely breathtaking to see the sunset from. It gets its name from a large mill wheel, which serves also as a historical site of interest. There is no official beach, but it does feature a beautiful, private harbour area with deep water that is popular
for first-time cliff divers.

Riomaggiore is the first village of the Cinque Terre. It is characterized by a rustic aesthetic; a small stony beach and wharf that is surrounded by tower houses. Its public beach is moderately crowded, and it is surrounded by enormous boulders. Riomaggiore is one of the picturesque scenes of Italy that absolutely must be experienced. It has been painted by Telemaco Signorini (1835-1901) and will serve to inspire anybody who visits the town.

In a fast-growing and stressful world like that of today, it is important to take a breath and embody the natural splendour of nature around us. The Cinque Terre is one of the few places that preserve this philosophy with its tradition, scenic trails, free beaches, and
peace of mind.