Cinque Terre, Levanto, Bonassola

[from Wikipedia] The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. "The Five Lands" comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Over the centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible corporate development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside.

 

Proceeding south to north, first up is Riomaggiore.

 

 

Next is Manarola.

 

Then Corniglia.

 

 

Vernazza

 

 

On the far right of the picture of Vernazza is this awesome restaurant.

 

 

And Monterossa al Mare.

 

 

We stayed at the first village north of the Cinque Terre, Levanto.

 

 

Some of the sites around Levanto are ...

... a 13th century loggia,

 

 

... the restaurant where we had dinner,

 

 

... this cute church which was originally built in 1222, The striped facade is made with white Carrara marble and local green serpentine.

 

 

 

 

 

While in Levanto we did a three mile walk to the next town to the north, Bonassola, for lunch.

 

 

This is the restaurant where we had lunch.

 

 

We discovered a lovely church while wandering around town after lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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