WHAT IS THE CINQUE TERRE? ... Centuries old footpaths and mule tracks wind about 500 to 1,000 feet above the sea, leading through olive groves and vineyards, orchards and chestnut woods. ... There are almost no cars as the villages are not easily accessible by road, but the main railway between Rome and Paris runs along the coast, mainly in tunnels.... Dan Wood wrote: My overall description of Cinque Terre: Vertical towns. Expect a cardiovascular workout; this is not a town for people who spend all their time in a car or on the sofa. http://homepage.sunrise.ch/homepage/avong/cinque_terre/
Just absolutely beautiful. Sip some vino while trading from a balcony at the Hotel Sirenuse atop an incredibly picturesque hillside overlooking an azure sea, and you'll see what I mean.