I recently returned from another amazing trip leading for HF Holidays at Bonassola. This was the sixth time I'd been there! So you can see how much I love it. The Cinque Terre is a beautiful area with its photogenic towns by the coast and the views across the sea from higher up. There is some great and sometimes quite strenuous, walking as well.
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| Vernazza with Monterosso in the distance |
The lower paths between the towns can get pretty busy. Top tip: if someone wants to overtake you, get in by the wall and let them pass you on the downhill side. The Cinque Terre towns: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manorola and Riomaggiore can also get very busy, especially now you get cruise ship groups, but we try to visit early in the morning when it is quieter. Seeing the tourists is really part of the experience!
We also get away from the touristy bits and visit quiter hillside villages. We have lunch at an Agriturismo high up above Framura which is five villages connected by steps. We also do some of the classic walks, like Riomaggiore to Portovenere, returning to Vernazza by ferry.
For transport to and from the walks we use the trains. This allows for more flexibility. We can depart really early if we want. That way we are making use of the cooler morning. It can get pretty hot and did while I was there. Using trains also means you are not committed to finishing the walk at a particular time. Monterosso station even has a bar on Platform 1 with an incredible view of the other Cinque Terre towns.
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| View from Monterosso Station Bar |
However, the best bit is Bonassola itself and the Hotel Delle Rose. Two railway stations north of the Cinque Terre, Bonassola is a lovely peaceful place where Italians from the busy cities take their holidays. The hotel is run by the sons of the footballer Giorgio Bernardin who played for Inter Milan and Italy and they couldn't be more friendly. You can find out more of the history here.
The Roof Bar is a great place to sit in the evenings. You can eat breakfast there as well as listening to us describe the next day's walking. In the evening you can stroll out to the Punta Della Madonna and look back at Bonassola in the moonlight.
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| Bonassola from Punta Della Madonna |
To finish, here is a picture of a prickly pear flowering over the Ligurian Sea.
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| Prickly Pear in Flower |
