The Cinque Terre (pronounced CHEEN-kweh TEHR-reh) is a rugged portion of coast of the Riviera to the west of the city of La Spezia in the Liguria region of Italy comprising five villages, originally called lands=terre. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all encapsulated in the Cinque Terre national park. The Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cinque Terre, due to the geographical and anthropomorphic features of the territory in which they are found, represent one of the main tourist attractions of the Riviera of La Spezia and in general of the Liguria region. The orographic context is a naturally rugged, hilly territory, attenuated by the presence of terraces for crops, which degrade towards the seafront in steep slopes. Man's action over the centuries has modelled the territory without altering its delicate ecological balance by terracing the slopes, an agricultural technique intended to exploit as much as possible the heavily sloping soils which degrade towards the sea, thereby making it one of the most characteristic landscapes of Liguria. In 1998 the Italian Ministry for the Environment set up the Protected natural marine area Cinque Terre[1] for the environmental protection and the valorisation of the biological resources, for the divulgation and promotion of a socio-economical development compatible with the naturalistic-landscape relevance of the area. In 1999 the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre[2] was set up for the conservation of the ecological balance, the protection of the landscape, the safeguard of the anthropological values of the location. The Cinque Terre belong to the Comunità Montana della Riviera Spezzina[3].[show]Contents [hide] Contents 1 Transportation and tourism 2 Wheelchair Accessibility 3 Food and wine 4 Other towns near the Cinque Terre 5 Gallery 6 External links [edit] Transportation and tourism A local train line from La Spezia to Genoa connects the five villages and runs in what is mainly a tunnel for the full distance between Riomaggiore and Monterosso, emerging from the rock infrequently for quick glimpses of the Mediterranean sea. A passenger ferry runs between the five villages, but it does not stop at Corniglia because it does not have a natural harbor or marina. The boat leaves from Genoa's Old Harbour and La Spezia, Lerici or Portovenere. A walking trail connects the five villages. The path from Riomaggiore to Manarola is called the Via Dell'Amore (roughly, "Lovers Walk") and varies in difficulty from an easy stroll to a rough and physically challenging hike. The stretch from Manarola to Corniglia is also easy to hike, although the main trail into Corniglia finishes with a climb of 368 stairs. The trail from Corniglia to Vernazza is steep at certain places. The trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is by far the steepest. It winds through olive orchards and vineyards and is rough in places, but offers the best view of the bay and the spectacular approaches to both Monterosso and Vernazza. There are nominal fees to use the more popular walking trails, but the less frequently travelled (and most arduous) are free of charge. All the villages have small hotels or inns and there are many bed and breakfasts throughout the area that offer excellent service and frequently beautiful views of the Mediterranean and the surrounding hills. There is a youth hostel located at the top of the town of Manarola (Hostel Cinque Terre). Also, many small apartment owners in some of the villages have banded together and, in many cases, offer use of their apartments through small, locally-owned hospitality businesses. Because of this arrangement, quality of the accommodations varies greatly; and while many good beds are available, there are often complaints of grungy and overcrowded apartments being rented to visitors. Regardless, this hostel-style shared accommodation is readily available in tourist season, and beds can be found for € 20-30 per night. [edit] Wheelchair Accessibility Cinque Terre is not the most handicapped-accessible of locations. However, depending on the severity of the handicap, it possible to visit there. Village Accessibility Monterosso Most accessible. See notes below. Vernazza Relatively accessible. Some steps involved. Main shopping area can be navigated with a wheelchair. Corniglia Hard to reach from the sea. From the train station, the village can be reached via a road. Manarola Relatively accessible but steep areas and some steps. Riomaggiore Least accessible. Going almost anywhere involves lots of steps. Monterosso is the most accessible of the five villages. You can reach it by car, train or bus. The Italian trains will accommodate wheelchair-bound people, up to a point. They will help you on and off the train and help you with connections. However, the platforms are not always handicapped-accessible. In Monterosso, platform 1, adjacent to the station, does have an informal ramp: go to the far end (left, facing the water), through a narrow gate, and then down a private driveway to the main road. The other platforms require use of stairs. Monterosso itself is easy to navigate with a wheelchair. The main road runs right alongside the water, with a sidewalk that's reasonably accessible. People often walk on the road as well. The town is divided into two parts: a new part where the train station is located, and an old part; they're separated by a cliff bluff that has a tunnel through it. In the old part, off-road means cobblestones. These can be awkward to navigate for wheelchairs with small wheels, such as patient transport chairs. Hotels in Monterosso vary as to accessibility. Hotel websites are not very informative, so best to call ahead to get details. Some are single-story with no steps, others have lifts (elevators), while many--or most--are inaccessible. A particularly good one is Hotel Suisse Bellevue, located above and well away from the the touristy part of the village. They have free parking for cars and offer a van that runs hourly between the hotel and town. The van can carry a wheelchair if its collapsed. There is a ferry boat that travels between the five villages and beyond. The gangway used for passengers is very narrow, so a wheelchair-bound person cannot get on. If the handicapped person can walk somewhat, however, and if the wheelchair collapses, then it is possible, and the crew will help. There is a "lover's pathway", the Via dell'Amore, that runs between the villages of Riomaggiore and Manrola. You can take the train to either village and get on the path. From either station, the path is wheelchair accessible, though it can involve some pretty steep ramps. The path itself is smooth and fairly level, and is well worth the effort; it takes about an hour or so at an easy pace and affords an excellent view of the sea, the villages, and the mountains. The pathway is in the national park. Normally the entrance cost is 5 Euros per person per day, but that is waived for a handicapped person and an attendant. [edit] Food and wine Cinque Terre regionGiven its location on the Mediterranean, seafood is plentiful in the local cuisine. Anchovies of Monterosso are a local specialty designated with a Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union. The mountainsides of the Cinque Terre are heavily terraced and are used to cultivate grapes and olives. This area, and the region of Liguria, as a whole, is known for pesto — a sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, salt, olive oil, pine nuts and pecorino cheese. Focaccia is a particularly common local baked product. Farinata is also a typical snack found in bakeries and pizzerias- essentially it is a savoury and crunchy pancake made from a base of chick-pea flour. The grapes of the Cinque Terre are used to produce two locally made wines. The eponymous Cinque Terre and the Sciachetrà are both made using Bosco, Albarola, and Vermentino grapes. Both wines are produced by the Cooperative Agricoltura di Cinque Terre (“Cinque Terre Agricultural Cooperative”), located between Manarola and Volastra. Other DOC producers are Forlini-Capellini, Walter de Batté, Buranco, Arrigoni. In addition to wines, other popular local drinks include grappa, a brandy made with the pomace left from winemaking, and limoncello, a sweet liqueur flavored with lemons. Other towns near the Cinque Terre Bonassola Levanto Groppo Volastra Portovenere La Spezia Sarzana |
