Natural Beauty of Cinque Terre

The remarkable stretch of land along the Ligurian coast that makes the fabled Cinque Terre - meaning the five lands - is just over six miles long. There is an incredible amount of beauty packed into this compact area. You have olive orchards, lemon groves, vineyards and impossibly clear water dotted with colorful fishing boats. These are what we think are the most beautiful places in the Cinque Terre. Fegina Beach in Monterosso
Easy to reach, Fegina Beach is just steps form the Monterosso train stop, this is the quintessential Italian beach scene with row upon row of colorful striped beach umbrellas. This beach is also a kind of Cinque Terre unicorn because it is quite long and sandy. Most of the other “beaches” here are small pebbly coves or simply slabs of rock which sit in deep water. There are six private beach clubs and those Instagrammable umbrellas. There is a charming flower lined seafront promenade here with bars, gelato shops and restaurants. Another striking don’t-miss site is the remains of the giant sculpture of Neptune at the far end of the beach.
Lardarina in Corniglia
The only place where you can see all five of the villages that make up the Cinque Terre is from the village of Corniglia. While the train station is down at sea level, the actual village is more than 300 feet above. You can reach Corniglia by what are known as the Scalinata Lardarina - the Lardarina staircase. There are 382 steps that zig zag up the cliff. When you reach the top, find the Via Fieschi, which will lead you to the panorama terrace and that sweeping view.
Piazza Guglielmo Marconi in Vernazza
This lively piazza is the heart of the village of Vernazzza. Hundreds of years ago they had the only natural harbor in the area. This brought wealth and prestige to Vernazza, which was translated into a castle with beautiful arcades and decorative archways. The town was devastated by a terrible flood and landslide in 2011, but has been lovingly and painstakingly restored to its glory. The piazza is a gathering place for locals and visitors alike filled with painted fishing boats, houses with laundry lines, Santa Margherita di Antiochia church, the Vernazza harbor and bars and restaurants, where you can sit and take it all in.