Come with me and explore the picturesque Cinque Terre, which served as the inspiration for Disney Pixar’s Luca. Experience the breathtaking scenery and indulge in decadent gelato as we embark on an unforgettable adventure.
After a short visit to the beautiful Bellagio, we arrived at our hotel. This morning we got to sleep a full hour earlier than the morning prior, until 6:30! We had about a two-hour drive to the train station to take a train up to Corniglia, one of the five towns of Cinque Terre.
Corniglia
The train ride to Corniglia was around thirty minutes. Once we got off the train, we had to climb nearly 500 steps up to the town. There was an option of a shuttle, but our group didn’t have that opportunity because we didn’t have any adults who wanted to wait for the shuttle. But it provided a beautiful view of the water and terraced farmlands. We reached the top of the stairs and had an option of going on an hour hike to the next town after exploring Corniglia for 45 minutes or exploring Corniglia for an hour and going on a 45-minute train ride to the next town. I chose the hike, because why wouldn’t you want the most picturesque option?! Four other teens and the group leaders shared that mindset; we were to meet for our lengthy hike at 11:20.
But first, my friends and I explored Corniglia. The greenery and colors of this town were beautiful. We climbed even more stairs up to a church where catholic priests were also visiting. The views from the church were stunning! The water was clear; the boats that dotted the sea added to the picture-perfect scenery. The other side of the town showed captivating greenery and pastel houses. To end our exploration, we fueled up for our hike with unique gelato. I enjoyed my Basil and Lemon gelato from a shop called Alberto.
Hiking Cinque Terre
We enthusiastically embarked on our hike at 11:20 after being informed by our tour guide that it would be quote “mostly downhill”; for those hoping to embark on this journey, I would like to clarify that it is not mostly downhill. But even so, the views make it all worth it. Though, I would advise wearing hiking shoes or tennis shoes. I wore my favorite Altered State “hiking” shoes. They worked fine, though many people did stop me to say that they were impressed that I could hike in them. We were hiking in a group until we separated due to pacing differences. The views were breathtaking; the ocean glittered beneath the warm sun. The hiking grounds were varied. Sometimes there were stairs, and sometimes there was not. Sometimes there was a rail, and sometimes not. What I enjoyed most about the hike was meeting new people! After I separated from the rest of the group, I met a man from Canada who was there for work. I also met a mother-son duo from Australia.
Vernazzo
After about an hour and fifteen, I arrived at Vernazzo, which is the next town over. I found a member of our group who took me to the train station to locate my friends. We then walked around some shops and got some food. One of the shops had cats that sat on some of the merchandise and slept under the sun. The crowdedness in the town made it take forever to find a place to sit and eat. Eventually, we found a place to eat, and one of my friends and I split a pizza and some pasta.
Monterosso al Mare
After a couple of hours, we got on the train and went to another town called Monterosso al Mare. While Vernazzo did have a small beach and pier, this entire town sat along the ocean. Most people went swimming here, but I had another idea. I went hiking up a small mountain to see a view of the entire town. I found a church along the way and a mausoleum at the top. While I’m sure the view would’ve been stunning, I got freaked out by the thought of ghosts and ran as fast as my Altard State hiking boots would take me, which was to a random set of stairs. I decided to climb these stairs, but it turned out that they led to a house inside the mountain. At this point, I decided it would be best to hike back down the hill and find my friends, but first, I had to stop for gelato. After I enjoyed my second gelato, I found my friends swimming in the ocean. I walked until the water reached my dress. The water was perfect for the hot day.
We took a train back to Corniglia and left Cinque Terre around six to go to the hotel. For dinner, we had green beans and a beef dish with ice cream for dessert. Tomorrow we leave Italy for the tiny country of Monaco and the south of France! We certainly have a busy day tomorrow!