Exploring the Cinque Terre and Italian Riviera

There are places you travel that just stick with you, and the Cinque Terre was one for me. The five colorful fishing villages perched precariously on the Italian coast are a travel photographer’s dream, and I feel as though half of our trip I spent snapping happily away at each and every beautiful landscape, charming enclave, and patinated building I laid eyes on.

We spent five days on the beautiful Ligurian Sea, and with Manarola as our home base we would hike (or take the train) to a different village every day. If you are planning a trip, I would recommend renting an Airbnb and staying in either Vernazza or Manarola – my two favorite villages. Our two best meals were at Ristorante Belforte and Enoteca Dau Cila (be sure to reserve a table overlooking the water). Oh, and of course there was the famed focaccia which I simply could not get enough of!

Be sure to bring your hiking boots, as the hikes are absolutely unforgettable – my favorite portion was from Monterosso to Vernazza. Bonus points if you hike to Montenero Sanctuary perched high above Riomaggiore – a serious workout but so worth it! Last, but certainly not least, bring your camera (and a spare battery), because as beautiful as the Cinque Terre looks in photos, it is even more so in person.