Liguria - Comfortable vacation rooms for rent in the pretty cliffside village of Vernazza in the Cinque Terre, Liguria - one of Italy's most famous seaside resorts.
The five villages of the Cinque Terre lie in one of the most unspoilt areas of the Mediterranean, nestling in the rugged cliffsides of the Ligurian coast. This is a dramatic landscape, where nature is king and the scents of wild flowers drift upon the breeze, as they have done for millennia past.
To visit the Cinque Terre is to visit five hamlets suspended between sea and earth, clinging to the cliffs and surrounded by green hills. The people here have, for centuries, fought to extract their living from this rugged and challenging terrain, but have also learned to live in harmony with it. While here you will enjoy the fruits of this, in particular the marvellous wines and fresh produce.
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To visit these villages is to learn about the culture of the dry-stone wall and of the vineyard, of the fishermen and of their nets, of the steep valleys and of their paths. Visitors to the Cinque Terre can choose between a dive in the sea or a hike on the hills, between a walk in the narrow alleys (carruggi) or a boat trip onto the Mediterranean, a pilgrimage to a sanctuary or a seafood lunch. It is a landscape unique in the world in which man and nature have lived together in harmony since the beginning of time.
But though a wild, rugged and beautiful country, you will have to sacrifice none of the modern comforts during you stay in Basso Tonino. The accommodation is easily reached either by train or by car. You'll find your rooms centrally located in the village, near to the post office ... and in the only building in Vernazza that has an elevator! Every room has a computer with a modem, allowing connection to the internet. There is central heating, air conditioning and satellite TV; the unspoiled beauty outside is complemented by elegant modern comforts within.
[Regional map] [View on Google Map ]
Designated 'one of the most beautiful places in Italy' by a national council, the Cinque Terre and its surroundings offer limitless opportunities for exploration and for uncovering beautiful countryside, coastline, villages and towns. Vernazza itself is the loveliest of these five lovely hamlets, and it has the only natural harbour on this whole coast. It is a village of narrow lanes, flanked by tall, colourful houses, with the whole village overlooked by robust mediaeval bastions and a watchtower. This was built by the Genoese invaders after they had sacked the previous castle in 1182, punishing the people of Vernazza for piracy. There is an elegant Gothic church in Santa Margherita di Antiochia.
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You'll find plenty of good walking from here too. There are signposted walks such as the Blue Trail (Sentiero Azzuro) which covers 11km, all marked with blue waymarks. Hugging the shoreline, this marvellous walk takes you between all five of the hamlets. Walking past lemon trees, wild flowers, sandy beaches and pebbly strands; hiking up steep slopes giving breathtaking views of the sea and cliffs; and enjoying the cooling dappled shade of chestnut woods, this is a walk as varied as it is enchanting.
Find out more about a holiday in one of the most beautiful spots not just of Italy, but in the whole of Europe: simply click below.
