The weather’s been so beautiful lately at home.. and all my friends seem to be leaving for vacations in exotic places. That brought my mind drifting to a place I’d like to vacation (or better yet: honeymoon again in)… Cinque Terre!
For those who never took Spanish 101, “Cinque” means “five” and “terre” means “land”. Together, “Cinque Terre” is “The Five Lands” and refers to the most amazing secluded 5 little villages on the hillside on the coastline of the Italian Riviera.
I know for honeymoons you hear a lot about the all-inclusive resorts, beach-side bliss in the Bahamas, or a full-service cruise. For the couple that wants all that relaxation but also likes to be submersed in the culture and people, however, Cinque Terre is like a hidden diamond in the rough!
Built into the coastline, Cinque Terre is in the western Ligura region of Italy (think top of the “boot” on the map). It’s south of Milano and Torino, a little north of Pisa, and about a 3-4 hour train ride from Florence. There are no cars that can come into Cinque Terre. The only way to arrive is by train, which makes for limited amount of visitors and some great views of the Italian landscape.
If you haven’t guessed yet, I went to Cinque Terre on my honeymoon. But that isn’t just the reason you should go! I first found out about this hidden gem through a fellow outdoor-culture-lovin’ friend. But here, I’ll give you my top 3 reasons for choosing Cinque Terre:
- ITALY. Did I mention Cinque Terre is in Italy? Not only do you get secluded beaches, beautiful blue skies, and great weather, but you also get home-made Italian coffee, Italian vino, the culture of Italian locals, and oh yes… GELATO! Also, since Cinque Terre is central enough, you can hop on the train and head to Rome, Florence, or Venice throughout your honeymoon and just make this one stop on the highway of amore!
- GELATO. Yes, enough said.
- VARIETY. They say this is the spice of life. With 5 villages, and an easy 5 minute train ride to each (or a tough 1 hour hike to each), each village in Cinque Terre has its own unique flavor. You can take a boat ride off of Vernazza… lounge at the beach in Monterosso … find a secluded swimming hole in Manarola… or sample the wine in Riomaggiore. Something for the outdoor lover, the wine lover, the culture lover. Don’t you just love variety?
…and if you’re on a budget, you can go to napa! great food, wine, and you can skip over to the coast for a romantic picnic (think bodega) in nothing flat
haha Sonja! I luv it … some people even prefer napa wine over italian vino! =D I need to get up there soon
Just curious… where did you stay for your honeymoon in Cinque Terre? Or where would you recommend?
Hi Rachel, we stayed in an apartment we rented from a local agency in Monterosso when we went. Depending on the time of year you go, it can be super busy – and in our circumstance, all hotels were booked! Cinque Terre is still a like a “local village” where a lot of mom and pops own small hotels.
Depending on your style, you can find a hotel or get an apartment. You can always eat out.
And if you want more culture and livelihood, maybe stay in the big cities: Monterosso or Vernazza. The other cities tend to be quieter and smaller, but still just as gorgeous! =D