The Blue Path of the Cinque Terre - a corner of paradise

Part of the Cinque Terre route, path number two, called the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path), is one of the most appreciated paths on the entire island thanks to its numerous breathtaking views. Are you ready to discover it with us?

The Cinque Terre - where the land meets the sea Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, the Cinque Terre consist of a series of five villages, respectively Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, which overlook the coast and are characterized by pastel-colored houses.

With an existence first documented in the 11th century, the Cinque Terre underwent many changes over time, going through a period of fortification in the 16th century, to counter Turkish attacks, and a phase of decline, due to the construction of the railway line between Genoa and the capital, which decreed the end of traditional activities and the departure of its inhabitants until the development of tourism in the Sixties. Today, they are characterized by the evidence of the changes experienced, such as the statue of the Giant in Monterosso, the texture of terraced strips, called "ciàn", which interrupt the steep slopes and on which vines and olive trees are produced, and plains supported by dry-stone walls. Although they are now a strong tourist attraction, the main activities of the past consisted of fishing and agriculture, while the breeding of Monterosso anchovies still persists today.

In addition to the natural beauties, coinciding with the presence of vast flora and fauna, they are configured as a place for sports, such as trekking and mountain-biking, and good cuisine, including recipes such as muscoli ripieni (stuffed mussels) and frittelle di fiori di zucchino (zucchini flower fritters). For more information, click here.

The Sentiero Azzurro - the most appreciated To cross the Cinque Terre, it is possible to traverse a dense network of paths, some of which are main routes, such as the Sentiero del Crinale (Ridge Path), an ancient mule track, perhaps dating back to the Roman era, which runs along the watershed separating the coast from the inland, starting from Levanto, to the west, and ending in Porto Venere, to the east, developing for over 40 kilometers and reaching altitudes of 800 meters with an overall elevation gain of approximately 1,300 meters, and the Via dei Santuari (Way of the Sanctuaries), a route that unites all five churches connected to their respective village by steep mule tracks. The most appreciated path, however, is the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path), an itinerary already existing in the Middle Ages (with the exception of the Via dell'Amore, dating back to the twentieth century), which was, for centuries, the only means of communication between the inhabitants of the coast.

While it can be traversed in a single day, it is necessary to best enjoy it by following four different stages, namely Monterosso - Vernazza (stage 1), Vernazza - Corniglia (stage 2), Corniglia - Manarola (stage 3) and Manarola - Riomaggiore (the Via dell'Amore). For more information, click here.

How to reach the Cinque Terre The Cinque Terre are reachable through various public transport options:

• Train, with numerous services on the Pisa - Genoa line
• Car, using the A12 Genova-Livorno, exiting at La Spezia and following the signs
• Plane, with the nearest airports from Genoa, Pisa and Milan
• Boat, from La Spezia, Lerici, Porto Venere and Portofino

For more information, click here.