ALONG THE NORTHERN COAST IN THE ITALIAN REGION OF LIGURA IS CINQUE TERRE, WHICH TRANSLATES TO FIVE LANDS. STARTING FROM LEVANTO, WE TOOK A TRAIN TO THE FIRST VILLAGE OF MONTEROSSO MOVING SOUTH TO VERNAZZA, CORNIGLIA, MANAROLA AND RIOMAGGIORE. THESE PICTURESQUE TOWNS ARE NESTLED IN THE MOUNTAINTS LEADING DOWN TO THE SEA WHERE WE BASKED IN THE SUN. WE LATER ARRIVED IN CHIAVARI IN THE EVENING AND MADE IT TO THE BEACH JUST IN TIME TO CATCH THE SUN AS IT SLIPPED AWAY BEHIND THE MOUNTAINS. THE NEXT DAY WE VENTURED DOWN TO PORTOFINO, A NEIGHBORHOOD OF OLD MONEY. RESORTS, LUXURY BOUTIQUES AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS FRINGE THE COAST OF THIS VILLAGE. LATER WE TRAVELED DOWN TWISTING ROADS THAT LED TO PORTO VENERE WHICH IS THE FURTHEST POINT OF CINQUE TERRE. THERE, WE VISITED THE GOTHIC CHURCH OF ST. PETER AND SCALED DOWN THE STEEP CLIFFS TO REACH THE WATER.
IT WAS RELAXING TO ESCAPE THE BUSY CITY CENTER OF FLORENCE AND EXPERIENCE THE SLOW LIFE OF LIGURIA. PERHAPS I'LL RETURN DURING THE WARMER MONTHS TO LAY ON THE BEACH AND DO AS THE ITALIANS DO: LA DOLCE FAR NIENTE (THE SWEETNESS OF DOING NOTHING).
BEACHES OF MONTEROSSO
THE TYPICAL VILLAGES IN CINQUE TERRE ARE STACKED ON THE MOUNTAINS OVERLOOKING THE SEA (PICTURED IS THE VILLAGE OF RIOMAGGIORE)
QUIET EVENINGS ON THE BEACH IN CHIAVARI
ODD ONE OUT IN PORTOFINO
PORTOFINO
POST CARDS FROM PORTO VENERE
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