Cinque Terre, which is a train ride Pisa or Firenze (Florence)  is composed of five connecting villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore which are nestled on the mountainous Italian Riviera. The rugged terrain and natural beauty is a must stop for all nature buffs, beach dwellers, and small town shoppers. Cinque Terre, which translates to “Five Towns”, “Five Islands”, or “Five Lands”, is accessible by train from the village of Levanto which begins at the La Spezia and ends at the Genoa stops. However, the best way to travel is on foot. Many travelers opt for the step, narrow, and physically challenging approximately 5 hour hike which for a small fee can take the more adventurous traveler through all five towns.
Although the natural beauty of the beach in Moneterosso or the colorful homes and blooming exotic flowers on the hills of Vernazza, can be seen from the train, the hike is a more personal touch, and also makes for better photographs. Along the hike you may encounter a lemon farmer selling the freshest and juiciest lemons, sure to quench your thirst on a hot tiresome hike. You can also walk or catch the ferry into each town and taste the fresh focaccia (Italian Bread), famous pesto, or seafood which is in abundance on this coast.
Cinque Terre is an amazing site. The locals welcome tourism and in some cases speak English and other European languages. The food can be pricey and even shopping may be expensive, (due to the dependence on tourism), nevertheless if you make it to Italy, this is one place, that should be included on your to do list.  Keep in mind that if you plan on staying the night it is best to plan accordingly ahead of time as it may not easy to book hotels. According to the Cinque Terre official website from the months of June to September, Cinque Terre is most inundated with visitors.
