Welcome to the Italian Riviera, a coastal paradise where timeless beauty meets Mediterranean allure. This travel guide invites you to explore the enchanting towns that grace this captivating stretch of the Ligurian Sea – from the glamorous shores of Portofino to the coastal elegance of Santa Margherita Ligure, the maritime majesty of Genova, the gateway city of La Spezia, and the iconic Cinque Terre with its colorful cliffside villages. Each destination offers a unique experience, combining rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes. 

This is what you will find in this super complete itinerary: 
- Important tips before traveling
- Points of interest in each place
- Activities and recommendations in each destination
- The best local restaurants. You will find diverse type of dining options (fine dining, local food, budget friendly restaurants)
- Accommodation options for every budget 

The destinations covered:
- Genova
- Santa Margherita de Ligure 
- Portofino 
- La Spezia 
- Cinque Terre 


Cinque Terre, La Spezia, Italia

Santa Margherita Ligure, Génova, Italia

Riomaggiore, La Spezia, Italia

Génova, Italia

Vernazza, La Spezia, Italia

Portofino, Génova, Italia

Monterosso al Mare, La Spezia, Italia

Italian Riviera, Italia

Italian Riviera 

Indulge in the perfect Italian escape with a day in Cinque Terre. Known for its bright, colorful buildings and crystal-clear water, Cinque Terre consists five towns that make up a large chunk of the Italian Riviera. It is possible to spend days in Cinque Terre, but for those who are on a time crunch, it is possible that you have to do it all in a day. In this guide, we’ll be sharing our favorite spots, the things you can't miss, and the perfect way to do it all in one day. All transportation expenses in this guide are quoted from rome2rio.com.

Cinque Terre, SP, Italy

Corniglia, SP, Italy

Italy

Riomaggiore, SP, Italy

Manarola, SP, Italy

Vernazza, SP, Italy

Monterosso al Mare, SP, Italy

Italian Riviera, Italy

Liguria, Italy

Cinque Terre in One Day: The Best Way

Focaccia, hike, pasta, hike, sleep, repeat.

Hiking the Blue Trail in Cinque Terre

This guide is perfect for anyone who's visiting Cinque Terre because I go in deep details ( that no one will tell you about),  I give you restaurant and accommodation reccomendations and many useful tips so that you can have the time of your life while visiting.

This guide contains:
-Useful tips and warnings
-Dos and don'ts
-Must see things in each of the villages + one extra village ( a little suprise)
-Restaurant reccommendations
-Other food reccommendations (ice cream, slushie, focaccia, bruscheta, burrata, wine....)
-Accommodation recccommendations


Cinque Terre, SP, Italija

Corniglia, SP, Italija

Riomaggiore, SP, Italija

Manarola, SP, Italija

Vernazza, SP, Italija

Porto Venere, SP, Italija

Monterosso al Mare, SP, Italija

The most magical One day in Cinque Terre

Imagine a string of five vibrant pearls strung along a rugged coastline. This is Cinque Terre, where pastel-painted houses tumble down cliffsides, meeting the sparkling turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. Unlike the bustling French Riviera, Cinque Terre offers a slower pace, a place to wander cobbled streets and savor the charm of a bygone era.

Hike between villages on breathtaking trails, breathing in the salty air and the scent of lemon groves. Dive into hidden coves for a refreshing swim, or simply relax on a sun-warmed rock, mesmerized by the endless blue horizon.  For a taste of adventure, explore the dramatic cliffs and hidden inlets by kayak, or delve into the underwater world teeming with colorful marine life.

Cinque Terre is a place where time seems to slow down, inviting you to reconnect with nature's beauty and the simple pleasures of life.

This guide includes:
- introductory note
- places to visit (museums and cultural venues, open squares, beaches and others)
- restaurants and coffeeshops
- photo spots

Get to see more from my travels on my Instagram (@pedralexpereira) and Flickr (flickr.com/photos/pedralexpereira)

Ligúria, Itália

Cinque Terre, Spezia, Itália

Corniglia, Spezia, Itália

Itália

Riomaggiore, Spezia, Itália

Manarola, Spezia, Itália

Vernazza, Spezia, Itália

Portovenere, Spezia, Itália

Monterosso al Mare, Spezia, Itália

Get Lost (But Not Really) in Cinque Terre

Disclaimer: It was more like 2.5 days because I was in Pisa for part of it, but I feel like I still got a lot done as if I were there for 3. 

I visited 3 of the 5 villages in Cinque Terre. Sadly, there was a train strike while I was there so that is why I couldn't make it to Vernazza and Monterosso. This is something to keep in mind while traveling in Italy. I had no idea there was a train strike until I got there and that definitely shaped my itinerary as the train is a main resource for transportation in Italy.

This guide is part of my 12 day trip to Italy as a solo female foodie thrill seeker that I took back in March 2022.  

📍Manarola
📍Riomaggiore
📍Corniglia 

🛏️ Airbnb experience - high quality, best location (water front views with balcony) and affordable rates
🚆 Transportation tips
🍴 Good and bad eats...focusing on local + non-touristy spots
🏞️ Scenic photo spots with map coordinates
🛍️ Souvenir tips with map coordinates

Cinque Terre in 3 days

Porto Venere, SP, Italy

Cinque Terre

Statua del Gigante

The Giant was sculpted in 1910 by Italian artist Arrigo Minerbi at the behest of Giovanni and Juanita Pastine, wealthy Ligurians who had returned from Argentina. The statue was originally intended to adorn the Villa Pastine, a grand estate overlooking the sea.

Standing at an impressive 14 meters (46 feet) tall, the Giant depicts the Roman god Neptune, the ruler of the seas. The statue is crafted from reinforced concrete and iron, and its original features included a trident and a large seashell held aloft.

During World War II, the Villa Pastine was heavily damaged by Allied bombing raids, and the Giant suffered significant losses. His arms, trident, and seashell were destroyed, leaving him in a somewhat battered state.

Despite the damage, the Giant remained a beloved landmark, and in 1966, restoration efforts began. The statue's missing elements were not replaced, but the overall structure was repaired and reinforced.

Statua del Gigante

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