Located in the northwestern Italian region of Liguria, the Cinque Terre (Five Lands) is a string of five small towns dating back to the Middle Ages. They're located on a gorgeous, rocky stretch of the Ligurian Riviera coastline, between the cities of Genoa and La Spezia.
The towns of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare are locked between mountains and the sea. They are best known for their iconic, colorful houses dotting the coastline, all built on tiny, winding alleys. For lack of farmland, locals shaped the steep rocks of the surrounding mountains into dry stone terraces, where they grew vineyards and produced white wines and the famous sweet Sciacchetra passito wine, made from dried grapes.
The area and its several hiking paths, famous for their charming nature and extraordinary views, connect the five towns. Because of the rare flora and unique environment, the coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides have been named a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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