Five painted villages on the Ligurian cliffs
The Cinque Terre are five villages, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, stacked on cliffs above the sea and surrounded by terraced vineyards. Cars are impractical, so visitors hop between them by local train, ferry or on foot along the coastal paths of the national park. Come for the views of pastel houses at dusk, swimming off the rocks and plates of trofie with pesto, the local speciality. Stay overnight to enjoy it after the day-trippers leave.