Today was the day to explore Cinque Terre (the five lands) which are the 5 villages dotted along the coast line of the Italian Riviera. To get there we had to catch the train just down from our hotel. At the train station we got a pass which gives you access to unlimited train trips and to all the walking paths that connect the villages. The train stops at each village and runs right along the coast and through the mountains.

We started off with the furtherest away village - Riomaggiore. We couldnt get over how packed the train and all the villages were but it was a Saturday.. I'd hate to see how busy they get in 'peak' season!

We got out at Riomaggiore and had a wander around the town (which dates back to the 13th century) and decided we'd follow the walking track to the next village "Via dell'Amore" (path of love) which has the seat with all the locks behind it that couples put anywhere and everywhere they can fit. Its definately a great view along the path and we stopped half way for a coffee at this little cafe that literally hangs off the cliff with just a grate platform below you.

We arrived at the next town in about 30 mins - Manorola, which was also very pretty and also the town I've had on my computer desktop for awhile now so good to actually see it in person! I love the very very steep path they have down to the water for the boats, how on earth they get them up and down I have no idea! We thought we'd walk the next section of the track to the next town as it was suppose to take an hour and a half. This section was definately harder then the first section and quite rocky and hilly in parts but not too bad and worth it for the views. It was also pretty cool so it made it easier to walk.

This brought us to the 3rd town of Corniglia where we thought we better stop for lunch. After seeing the massive zig zag flight of stairs to get to the town which is perched right on top of a hill we decided to catch the courtesy bus to the top. When we got there we had lunch in a little place overlooking the hills full of grape vines and out to sea. After some exploring of the little alleys in and around the town we thought we'd better work off our lunch and walk down the 385 zig zag stairs to get back to the train station (i know there was 385 as there is a sign at the top congratulating you for walking up them!) We definately werent adventurous enough to keep walking to the next town as it was another 1.5hr walk so we caught the train!

Vernazza again was really pretty and much busier then the other 3, its also the only one of the 5 with a little harbour. Due to massive crowds we didnt stay here too long, just enough to see the main section and take some photos then it was back to the train station to head to the last town - Monterosso al Mare.

Turns out this was the busiest village of them all and the only one with a real 'beach'. The prominade that ran along the beach was packed and so was the beach which quite a few crazy people in the water and trying to sunbake (it was really cold and windy and overcast!)

We were back off home to Levanto after that and were really really glad that we'd got a hotel here instead of in one of the 5 towns as trying to navigate suitcases etc up and down those tiny streets with gazillions of tourists would have been impossible. Levanto was also really pretty and super close but nowhere near as crowded. This whole area was a nice change as most of the area near the beach and around our hotel had no cars or motorbikes, everyone got around on pushbikes so it was nice and peaceful for a change!