The Cinque Terre or 5 Lands is a short strip of coastal hills along the north west coast of Italy between Genoa and La Spezia. It was first developed by farmers who terraced the steep slopes to grow grapes and olives but has now been made a National Park. It's a popular tourist attraction because of the walking trails that join the 5 towns, following the coastline for much of the way.

Unfortunately the area is prone to rock falls and every year or so a section of the walk is cut off. This year it's two sections - the easier two in fact! 

We're staying in Manarola, the smallest of the 5 towns, nestled in against the hill with steep paths and stairways leading up from the sea past the station. It's very picturesque, particularly at night when the lights in the houses come on, turning it into something that looks like a model of a village from a distance. The restaurants, not surprisingly, specialise in seafood. The favourite local dish is Anchovies, not salted but cooked fresh. We had a plate of them as an entrée and they were delicious. The fish we've had here and in Venice has been very fresh and beautifully cooked.

Coastline looking towards Corniglia

Manarola