On Stands
Issue Date: February 2012Back Issues
Hiking the Five Lands
by Debbie Hime
By the time you are reading this, I will either be packing, hiking or just returning from this wonderful place on the West Coast of Italy overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. I was fortunate to hike here a few years ago, and I am so happy to be returning - the stunning visual and historical memories are still etched like a dreamlike fairy tale in my mind.
The five small coastal towns and their surrounding hillsides, known as Cinque Terre
National Park, are a geological marvel. Cinque Terre or “The Five Lands” (pronounced CHINK-wa TER–ah) is great for trekkers, travelers, and lovers alike to experience some of Italy’s most striking scenery.
The history of Cinque Terre is unique, as this area is so steep and rugged that only peasants would stake it out and even try to civilize it. To date, with little or no modern development, paths, trains and ferries are the only modes of transportation.
Each village is at sea level, etched into or perched atop ragged stone, with thousands of farmed terraces rising straight up - and once you experience it, you will appreciate why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
by Debbie Hime
The five villages along the trail-- Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore--connect generations of families and each village with its own unique charm and rich, cultural past. They have a rich summer tourism base now, but farming is still prevalent along the trail (the homemade limoncello bought in a recycled bottle on the trail was fabulous!).
Most references call this a “walking trail” but with an elevation difference of 500 meters (1600 feet) between the highest and lowest points along the trail, I definitely consider this to be more than a walk.
The hike is 11 kilometers long (almost 7 miles), and usually takes around 5 – 6 hours, depending on your ability, and you will want to take some timeexploring each of the quaint, charming villages (and of course a celebratory toast at the end of the hike with some local vino).
You will encounter people of every age and every size from all over the world, and locals are still using the trail as they have for the past several centuries. I saw an older woman walking between villages
in a nicely pressed dress, purse and heels, not missing a step or a breath.
For those who might not want to hike, don’t miss going to each village! The train has very convenient schedules so you can easily
visit each of the five villages in a day, as did six of our friends as we hiked the trail.
I have so many fond visual memories of this day: from to the dramatic views down to a small village hanging on the side of a cliff, to the villages’ four-story buildings on each side of a 3 – 4’ wide sidewalk, with locals’ laundry hanging across, to the “cats of Cinque Terre” (a whole other story - and yes, they do have a cat program).
Cinque Terre deserves more than just a day (or a condensed description!) But for now, all I can say is “ciao!”
The five small coastal towns and their surrounding hillsides, known as Cinque Terre
National Park, are a geological marvel. Cinque Terre or “The Five Lands” (pronounced CHINK-wa TER–ah) is great for trekkers, travelers, and lovers alike to experience some of Italy’s most striking scenery.The history of Cinque Terre is unique, as this area is so steep and rugged that only peasants would stake it out and even try to civilize it. To date, with little or no modern development, paths, trains and ferries are the only modes of transportation.
Each village is at sea level, etched into or perched atop ragged stone, with thousands of farmed terraces rising straight up - and once you experience it, you will appreciate why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
by Debbie Hime
The five villages along the trail-- Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore--connect generations of families and each village with its own unique charm and rich, cultural past. They have a rich summer tourism base now, but farming is still prevalent along the trail (the homemade limoncello bought in a recycled bottle on the trail was fabulous!).
Most references call this a “walking trail” but with an elevation difference of 500 meters (1600 feet) between the highest and lowest points along the trail, I definitely consider this to be more than a walk.
The hike is 11 kilometers long (almost 7 miles), and usually takes around 5 – 6 hours, depending on your ability, and you will want to take some timeexploring each of the quaint, charming villages (and of course a celebratory toast at the end of the hike with some local vino).
You will encounter people of every age and every size from all over the world, and locals are still using the trail as they have for the past several centuries. I saw an older woman walking between villages
in a nicely pressed dress, purse and heels, not missing a step or a breath.
For those who might not want to hike, don’t miss going to each village! The train has very convenient schedules so you can easily
visit each of the five villages in a day, as did six of our friends as we hiked the trail.
I have so many fond visual memories of this day: from to the dramatic views down to a small village hanging on the side of a cliff, to the villages’ four-story buildings on each side of a 3 – 4’ wide sidewalk, with locals’ laundry hanging across, to the “cats of Cinque Terre” (a whole other story - and yes, they do have a cat program).
Cinque Terre deserves more than just a day (or a condensed description!) But for now, all I can say is “ciao!”
Cinque Terre, IT
Debbie Hime has lived in the Caribbean off and on since ’89 (and on St. John for eight years).