We parked our camper near Monterosso Al Mare in the Cinque Terre area and spend a few days exploring these quaint towns. The dramatic scenery and laid-back lifestyle has made this small area a must-see! The principle attraction is the beautiful but rugged landscape.
Cinque Terre comprises five small towns (hence the name, which translates to “Five Lands”) on the western coast of Italy in the region of Liguria, just above Tuscany. It’s characterized by terraced agricultural land and colorful towns that appear to rise from the Mediterranean Sea. Although the area is home to only some 4,000 inhabitants, it easily attracts 2.4 million tourists per year, many of whom arrive by cruise ships at one of two nearby ports.
It really pays off to stay close by as the towns are transformed once the day visitors depart. Our favourite town to stay in is Monterosso but Manarola is incredibly photogenic!
Although many visitors treat Cinque Terre as a day-trip from Florence we really recommend staying for at least three nights in order to fully absorb what this territory has to offer.
The five villages are very close to one another, so there’s no need to stay in a different one every night; choose one town as a home base, and visit the others by train or foot. It can be a nightmare to navigate the steep roads and winding staircase with luggage so travel light!
