Cinque Terre and the Ligurian coast (Italy) Photographed by Jair (Yair) Moreshet 2007 Music: J. S. Bach, Partita no. 2 in D minor Background: Cinque Terre (“5 Lands”) is a group of 5 unusual fishing villages in Italy that is on the list of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO. The villages are built on the steep cliffs that meet the waters of the Mediterranean on the Ligurian coast and are, therefore, very unique in their character. By the very nature of the geography the villages couldn’t change much over the years, and even today are difficult to access.

Portovenere, a charming small port town by itself, is very convenient as a base for visiting Cinque Terre, in particular by boat.

A medieval church on the entrance to the port of Portovenere.

Another medieval church in Portovenere.

Cinque Terre: The village of Riomaggiore.

Entering Riomaggiore “center” and “port” by climbing down its main alley by foot (the only other way is by boat).

Riomaggiore “center” immediately after sunset.

A nice foot trail along the cliffs connecting the 5 villages.

Sunset over Cinque Terre from the connecting foot trail along the cliffs. The Fig-tree, seen in the foreground, typically combines with grape-vines, forming miniature gardens on mountain terraces in the “yards” of a few scattered homes (as described in the prophecies of the Bible…).

Cinque Terre, the village of Vernazza: Apparently, it is romantic here…

Vernazza from above

Vernazza, another view from above

Vernazza, a typical alley

Cinque Terre, Vernazza: Since the terrain is rocky and steep, this cemetery, on top of a mountain, stacks coffins vertically above the ground.

Vernazza, just after sunset.

Vernazza: In homes set back from the waterfront, some families engage in small-scale supporting agriculture along mountain terraces.

Cinque Terre: The village of Manarola.

Manarola, its “center” and port

Manarola, just after sunset

Cinque Terre: Charming alleys in the village of Monterosso al Mare.

The Portofino peninsula is a next door neighbor on the Ligurian coast and Santa Margherita is one of its lovely towns.

Portofino

Back to the base in Portovenere after sunset.