Ana Rebeca 10/23/15 Ana Rebeca 10/23/15

The Five Towns of Cinque Terre: A High School Clique Travel Guide

Each town of Cinque Terre hosts it's own unique personality, which reminds me of high school cliques. Read on to see which one suits you best: Preps, Homecoming Queens, Rebel Punks, Artists, Class President...

The Five Towns of Cinque Terre: A High School Clique Travel Guide

Spoiler Alert: Cinque Terre is not just 1 city in Italy, but rather 5 distinct towns (or villages) along the coastline! Don't be confused by this when people tell you to book your trip to Cinque Terre to see how amazing it is. You will not find a "train to Cinque Terre" or "hotels in Cinque Terre," but rather trains and hotels for each individual town.

If you are visiting for more than just a day trip (which I highly recommend doing), you will need to know which town you want to stay in, visit, etc. After visiting each of the towns this summer, I noticed that each village had it's own distinct personality that was different from the next. Some were steep on the mountain side, some were more photogenic, and some just had more to offer.

It reminded me a lot of the different cliques we used to see in high school: the jocks, the beauty queens, the drama kids, etc. So because of this, I decided to spice up this guide a bit and give you a "High School Clique" travel guide to the five towns of Cinque Terre so you can easily understand each one's personality!

*In order from North to South*

1) Monterosso al Mare: The Class President

Monterosso al Mare, often referred to as simply Monterosso, is the Class President of the five towns. Everyone likes the Class President because she always has a lot to offer in order to please the masses. Here you will find the most "resort" type vibe of all the towns. Monterosso is a combination of old and new with many hotels/B&Bs, restaurants, streets to walk and drive, easy access to sandy beaches, and local shops.

If you want to have a more relaxed experience without all the hiking and climbing, I would suggest Monterosso. You can even take an amazing boat tour from here that will show you all of the five towns by sea. I highly recommend this tour when visiting Cinque Terre, especially if you only have a day or two to see the area.

2) Vernazza: The Homecoming Queen

Vernazza is the girl that all the girls want to be and all the guys want to be with. She is the Homecoming Queen and easily the most picturesque of all the towns (a lot of pictures you may have seen of Cinque Terre are likely from Vernazza). Her beautiful waterfront comes complete with a castle, a tiny beach, and a colorful piazza. Just like the Homecoming Queen, it is impossible not to fall in love with Vernazza.

Come here to explore the exquisite one-street town that is filled with little wine bars, delicious restaurants, shops, and gorgeous views. I honestly recommend Vernazza for everyone because it is easily walkable and it is just too gorgeous to miss. **This is where I stayed when I visited!**

3) Corniglia: The Rebel Punk

Corniglia is the Rebel Punk of the group because she makes her own rules and doesn't care if you don't like it. Located high along the cliffs, Corniglia is the only town that is not directly on the waterfront and has a pretty steep walk to get there (the Lardarina staircase to get there is 33 flights and 337 steps!). However, once you do get to the town, you will find a lovely, quieter village that boasts some amazing views.

If you want a more quiet stay and are willing to brave the trek up (although I have been told that there are shuttles that can take you to the town--not sure if that's true), then Corniglia will be a good place for you. There is even a nude beach named Guvano Beach along the side of the town! Such a rebel, Corniglia...

4) Manarola: The Artist

Manarola is a little rough around the edges (literally with all the rocky exterior), but so creative and colorful under the surface. She is like the Artist of the group. Another extremely photogenic town of Cinque Terre, she boasts a beautiful coastline with areas and coves to swim, rocks to jump off of (I did this! And yes, it hurt like hell), vibrant architecture, and winding paths to walk along. The famous path Via dell'Amore, aka "The Way of Love", connects this town and Riomaggiore. It is historically known as a walking path for lovers (and tourists, hikers, etc.).

I would recommend Manarola for anyone who wants the same picturesque sites as Vernazza but is looking for a quieter option. It is also a nice spot to stop in for the day because there are some great shops and restaurants along the road.

5) Riomaggiore: The Prep

Riomaggiore is the clean-cut, beautiful Prep girl that we all know. She's not necessarily the most stunning or most popular, but everyone still knows her and likes her. Riomaggiore is another one-street town that has a lovely harbor, plenty of restaurants, a pharmacy, a castle, and great wine that is produced by the local vineyards.

The town is a bit more modern than some of the others, but still holds the same charm. It is fairly walkable with a few steep areas that are very manageable. I would recommend Riomaggiore to anyone who wants a nice, modern stay that is not as resort-y as Monterosso. *It is also the town that is closest to the train station that connects to La Spezia.

So there you have it! All of the five towns of Cinque Terre with their different personalities. Each of them are amazing in their own way, so you really can't go wrong when deciding on where to go. What's your favorite town of Cinque Terre? Comment below with feedback!

Cinque Terre Boat Tour

Cinque Terre is a destination that is best seen from the water. Angelo's Boat Tour was the perfect way to get those spectacular coastline views of these colorful seaside towns.

Cinque Terre Boat Tour with Angelo's Boat Tour

One of my most anticipated stops in Italy this summer was Cinque Terre, located along the scenic Italian Riviera coastline. For years I had been seeing beautiful photos and hearing great things about the location. I knew had to stop there for a few days.

Boy, was everyone right... Cinque Terre might have been one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever seen in the world. It is comprised of 5 small towns (hence the name: Cinque=5/Terre=lands) that are colorfully placed along the Northwest coast of Italy along the Riviera.

Cinque Terre is a region that is best seen by the sea. Chances are that most of the breathtaking photos you have seen were taken from the seaside or in the water because of the striking, colorful views you get from this view. Rows and stacks of colorful houses and ancient vineyards catch you at every corner.

Knowing that Cinque Terre should be seen from the water, I looked up some options of great local boat tours that would be able to deliver those remarkable views. I came across one in particular that stood out to me—Angelo’s Boat Tour. With the extremely reasonable price (135€ per person, which includes food/drinks/alcohol) and full day schedule, I booked it immediately without hesitation.

We met outside of the harbor in Monterosso al Mare (the northernmost town of Cinque Terre) at 11AM sharp. Angelo was there with 2 boats prepared and a crew of men to help through the day. From there, we set off into the Mediterranean Sea for a full day of boating.

The boats took us along the coastline where we were able to get amazing views of all 5 towns—Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. During our time on the boat, they provided us with amazing snacks (I am still fantasizing about these delicious carrots they had that were marinated in God knows what savory concoction...) and Prosecco. I’m definitely a fan of any tour that gives me prosecco on a boat at 11AM!

We cruised around taking in the views and learning about some of the history of the area. For lunch, we stopped in Manarola where Angelo and the crew took us to a restaurant that served some awesome, authentic, fresh seafood. There really isn’t seafood quite like the Italians prepare it...so yummy!

After lunch, we stopped in at another shop for some limoncello. We got distracted on the way back to the boat by some other visitors who were jumping from the high rocks (about 35-40 feet) into the water. A little tipsy from my prosecco overload, I decided to face my fear of heights again and jump off those rocks!

**The climb up wasn’t too bad, but standing up there was much different. My prosecco-buzz wore off as soon as I got to the top and looked down. It probably took me about a minute (or 3) until I finally jumped off—but I did it! Unfortunately for me, I landed in a very awkward position since I was flailing the whole way down and I ended up with some pretty serious bruises on my butt for a few weeks... But—all in the name of work, right?!**

After we boarded the boat again, the crew took us to a lovely spot where we were able to jump in the water and swim around in the Mediterranean for a while. The ocean was so blue and the water felt amazing. We swam around for a bit before we set off back to Monterosso for the end of the tour.

Overall, I was extremely impressed with Angelo’s Boat Tour and the staff that guided us around all day. We got everything we wanted out of it—food, views, booze, and ocean! It was the perfect way to see all of Cinque Terre in 1 day. I highly recommend Angelo’s Boat Tour if you go to Cinque Terre. Whether you’re alone, with a significant other, or with your family, it’s perfect for everyone!

Have you been to Cinque Terre? Comment below with your favorite part of your trip!