Italy, comprised of 20 different regions, has an incredible amount of diversity. For that reason alone, Italy is top on our list of favorite countries. Each region feels so different from its neighbor, and the distinct polarity of each one is palpable. The terrain and climate of each region produce unique differences in agriculture and food. And because of the varying historical and traditional events throughout time, each region embodies its own type of culture with world-famous monuments and ruins.

We spent some time in seven of the regions: Emila Romagna, Latium, Liguria, Lombardy, Sardinia, Tuscany, and Veneto, all of which we loved for varying reasons and qualities. It’s tough to pick a favorite, but Liguria really stands out for us. Home to some of our favorite little villages and towns, which all deserve their own individual entries, but for the sake of staying on track, we’ll talk about Cinque Terre.

Centuries-old and comprised of five small villages, Cinque Terre makes a fantastic day trip. Each village has something a little different to offer, and all are worth a visit if given the opportunity. One commonality among all of them is the breathtaking view you get from a distance, looking back at the bright and colorful clusters of homes on the rugged cliffside of the Mediterranean Sea. All of the views look like photos from postcards. They really are so gorgeous.

The low key vibe of the locals reminded us a lot of some of the villages we visited in Asturias and Galicia - fishermen and farmers at work, bringing in the local catch of the day. You’ll find fresh seafood and local wine at all of the trattorias.

Green hillside in Cinque Terre — Farmer on the hillside in Cinque Terre

We had to buy a Cinque Terre Card, a day pass to the trains and access to the hike we would do. The train from La Spezia took us into Vernazza, where we grabbed a small bite to eat on the terrace of a humble little restaurant not too far from the train stop. With a population of about 750 people, this village is very quaint and charming. The main attraction is The Santa Margherita di Antiochia Church and it’s bell tower. The town encircles the marina, where families swim with their kids and fisherman set out for their day on the sea. There is a plaza with restaurants, filled with tables shaded from the sun with colorful umbrellas.

We decided to hike part of the Sentiero Azzurro trail, usually connecting all five villages. When we were there, part of it was closed off due to mudslides, but the two mile path to Corniglia was clear. It was an easy trek, and gave some of the most incredible views. We hiked through the Mediterranean bush; gorgeous cacti and wild flowers growing on the cliff’s edge. The expansive Mediterranean glistening in the sun, and the tiny houses creating picturesque palettes of color all sprinkled along the hills.

Looking back at Vernazza, you get a great glimpse of the bell tower and the Doria Castle, a medieval structure dating back to 1,000 CE. We passed through a few smaller populated areas, not even large enough to be considered one of the five. Just places to stop and have a drink or eat a meal while soaking in the sun’s rays and the vista ahead. In the distance we hear someone playing the accordion, tucked away in the mountain, we can’t pinpoint from where it’s coming. The melodic sound just flows organically, and eventually disappears, but a lovely soundtrack to the Italian Riviera.

Our hike ends in Corniglia, the second village we’ll visit in our day. The population here is even smaller, so it’s likely most of the people here are tourists. And we did see a large tour group; although however touristy, it really didn’t feel that way. That holds true for all of Cinque Terre actually. The villages have not lost their authentic nature due to over-tourism. Everything still feels very genuine, especially the trattorias and the Italian food. The Liguria region specializes in pesto sauce, and it was the standout dish of many meals while we were there. We had lunch at A Cantina da Mananan - a cozy spot right in town, food made with local ingredients, homemade seafood pasta full of clams, mussels, prawns, and calamari paired beautifully with a white wine from the village. Our waitress was so sweet and showed an interest in Blair’s camera, as a photographer herself. We enjoyed chatting with her, it was surprisingly rare to find English-speaking locals whilst traveling through other parts of Liguria. She gifted us a couple of postcards before we left, as a kind gesture.

Yacht in the Mediterranean off the coast of Corniglia — View off of the Coast of Corniglia

Then we took the train to Monterosso, the largest of the five villages and the only one with an extensive beach along the coast. As we walked through the town, the long stretch of beach was too enticing to pass up, so we found a spot in the sand with plenty of sunlight left. In true Mediterranean fashion, the water is clear blue, warm, and welcoming. White wine and sunshine make for a glorious nap on the beach.

When the shadow of the cliff’s edge started to creep across the beach, it was our cue to pack up our things and head to Manarola for the sunset. We enjoyed our first taste of Italian gelato on our walk to the train station and just a short train ride later, we found a perch to watch the sun go down.

At this point, it was getting dark but we had been to four of the five villages and it seemed incomplete to not see Riomaggiore. We decided to hustle over to catch the glimpse of what the last remaining village had to offer. The clear night sky played a nice backdrop to the village lit with gold-toned flickers of light. The moon had risen just enough to reach the perfect placement just above the village over the harbor. Like an animation out of a bedtime story book, just unreal.

- B & A