Italy - These seaside bedsit and holiday apartment rentals between The Cinque Terre and Portofino, Liguria offer a superb way to vacation in Italy.
And so to the Cinque Terre, the five coastal villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, and one of the most remarkable locations in Italy.
Monterosso is undoubtedly the most visited tourist resort among the Cinque Terre, and one of the most beautiful spots in Italy. From the Capuchin Monastery and from the ancient Fieschi' Castle, the panoramic view takes in on one side the steep Punta Masco, with its ruins of the Abbey of San Antonio. On the other side lie steep slopes, covered with vineyards. From here you can see Vernazza, Corniglia and Manarola up to Capo Monte Nero. A pleasant walk from Monterosso takes you to Madonna di Soviore, the most ancient sanctuary in Liguria, a haven from invading Lombards in the early middle ages.
And these seaside bedsit and holiday apartment rentals between The Cinque Terre and Portofino, Liguria put you within striking distance of Vernazza. Maintaining the characteristic medieval village look, it boasts the most ancient seafaring traditions of all the Cinque Terre. The tall houses on the promontory are grouped in amphitheatre shape around a small bay, and are dominated by the massive defensive walls and the ancient Castle Tower. The climb to the Castle offers some of the best views in Italy. The narrow, dark carrugi (ancient narrow streets) meet the steep stairs. Above the doors of pink or yellow houses you’ll spy little niches containing votive statues. Boats are hoisted on the small piazza with its old arcades and rustic shops. There is the church of San Margherita d’Antiochia with its characteristic octagonal bell tower. Vernazza is a stop for tourist boats running from Portovenere to Monterosso.
Corniglia, more like a rural than a coastal village, is the only one in which the houses are not directly on the beach, and rises on the top of a headland. On the surrounding hills, vines and olive trees are grown and it is normal to bump into women coming and going from the ‘cian’ (vineyards) with baskets and bundles on their heads. The first part of the path that leads to Vernazza is protected by dry stone walls which shelter you from the sun and the wind that often blows strongly from the sea. The path winds around twisted olive trees and rises again to the tops of the tree-covered, hills. At halfway it is possible to descend to the sea by a path to the beautiful and isolated Guveno beach.
Situated on a rocky pedestal overhanging the sea, Manarola appears as a compact group of brightly coloured houses. Almost all have a terrace on the top: the typical ‘cassola’ where in September, after the grape harvest, the best grapes are lain in the sun for the Sciacchetrà wine. The main street ends at the square cut in the rocks, where boats are hoisted by hand. The chessboard square of the church of San Lorenzo becomes a playground for children, whose joyful voices replace the noise of cars.
And lastly Riomaggiore, which rises at the mouth of a rapid Apennine stream, the Romans' ‘Rivus Major’. According to the tradition, this village was first built in the 8th century when a group of Achaeans, escaping the persecution of the Byzantine emperor Leo III, found shelter there. The walk from the top of the village to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Monte Nero offers a wonderful view of the Cinque Terre.
Find out more about these seaside bedsit and holiday apartment rentals between The Cinque Terre and Portofino, Liguria. Click below for more details.
