In northern Italy, along the coast of the Ligurian Sea, in an about 350 km (220 miles) long strip, stretching from the French border to Tuscany, lies the beautiful region of Liguria.
Though being one of Italy's smallest regions, with its stunning coastlines and gorgeous villages, it is definitely one of the most scenic ones.
Located right on Liguria's southern tip, close to the border to Tuscany, lies one of the region's absolute highlights, Cinque Terre, constisting of five iconic villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. Recognisable by their pastel-coloured houses and beautiful terraces, built to cultivate grapes and olives on the steep the cliffs overlooking the sea, these villages draw in many curious travellers. The coastline, the villages and the surrounding hillsides are part of the Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The five villages are connected by trains, ferries and buses, but, depending on how much time you have to explore Cinque Terre, you can also hike the 12km (7.5 miles) long Blue Path, however, sections of the trail are frequently closed due to landslides.
Here, it is not advisable to travel by car, as the villages are located within restricted zones
A zona traffico limitato, or ZTL, is accessible to residents only and you will be fined if you drive in anyway. So when travelling by car, simply park a little further away and use public transport to get to the villages.
Liguria's second UNESCO World Heritage Site stands in, Genoa, the capital of the region.
The Palazzi dei Rolli are several dozens of magnificent palaces located on Le Strade Nuove in the city's centre. Here you can spend a wonderful afternoon and enjoy the impressive architecture while taking a stroll through the city's most beautiful corner.
Between Cinque Terre and Genoa, lies another iconic Italian fishing village, Portofino, famous for its picturesque harbour and colourfully painted buildings that line the shore.
As Portofino is known for its association with celebrity visitors, the small harbour is clustered with boats and yachts of all sizes, giving the small village a luxury feel.
Food:
When I spent a few days at the beach in Sestri Levante in the summer of 2020, I fell in love with Le Gardenie - Pizzeria. The restaurant impressed me with reasonable prices, great food and a charming Italian flair, so, as it is conveniently located between Cinque Terre and Portofino, in 2021 I stopped here again for lunch.
As with all restaurants with good ratings, you should book a table at least one day in advance.
In conclusion Liguria, though pretty small, has a unique charm and incredibly scenic costal roads, which are full of stunning view points. On a road trip through Italy, it's definitely worth driving by this amazing region to admire it's sheer beauty.
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