We took the train from La Spezia where our hotel is to Manarola. The train was clean and the…read moreeasiest way to get from La Spezia to Cinque Terre. It was raining when we were there so the ferry wasn't an option with the choppy water. Manarola is beautiful. The buildings are so colorful. The main street from the train station down to the harbor was a short walk with lots of touristy shops, restaurants, and gelato shops. Lots of little boats out in front of the shops along the path too. Walk down to the harbor to look back at Manarola to see all the colorful buildings lined up next to each other. Then take the path to the left and hike up to the top of that hill to take a look back at Manarola. It's not as colorful as Vernazza but just as beautiful.

This was the fourth coastal town on our hike of The Blue Trail coming from Monterosso. The hike…read morepart was not ideal since we weren't aware until we couldn't turn back that we were actually on a detour from the trail due to the main trail being closed for damages. This new one was exhausting, extremely long, and not great for a hot day and definitely not what we'd planned for. Due to this, I don't feel we gave Manarola justice. We walked through it quickly and found it to not have the views or the coastline of either Vernazza or Monterosso, so we hurried through to the station to finish our journey. In retrospect I wish we'd taken the train from Cornigila to Manarola so we could have had more time to enjoy walking down to the water, eating at the many great restaurants this town boasts, and exploring the town itself. I suppose it's only motivation to return in the future!

You can reach the Castle of Riomaggiore by climbing the steep road from the railway station or up…read morethrough the Town from the boat dock. Next door is the pretty Oratory of San Rocco and both are worth the walk for the views and yet another history lesson. Work on this fortification began in 1260 and it was then passed on the City of Genoa in 1276. The castle has a square base with the longest sides overlooking the sea. The outer wall has two circular towers with the entrance located between them. A narrow external staircase leads up to the tower where there is a large clock. Over time the castle has been renovated and until few years ago it housed the town cemetery. The castle on a hill divides the two little valleys of Rio Maggire and Rio Finale and from here you get a stunning panoramic experience.

We climbed everything we physically could during our two days at Cinque Terre. The views are…read moreamazing. All are wonderful!

This is possibly the most interesting tourist attraction of the city: it's a bell tower 112 metres…read morehigh, making it one of the highest in the world, and the highest red brick-built. It has been decorated with the biggest astronomical clock in the world, showing, along with date and time, lunar phases and zodiac signs. Getting to the top can be challenging, as there is no lift (not surprising considering that this building is nearly one thousand years old), but the views all the way up are superb, and get better as you appraoch the top. One should chose windier days, to enjoy the best views, and this can be problematic: the Po plain is enclosed by mountains, and wind is rare. The air is often very foggy, particularly in winter, or misty enough for people not to take the most of the views. When the alps are visible in the far distance from the roads around the town, one shouldn't miss the occasion to walk up the Torrazzo: they can be sure they won't be disappointed. The whole city can be seen, along with huge portions of the countryside and parts of the river. The price is usually around 5€ but it might vary, though not so much, as the building is managed by the Diocese who might decide that they need more money any time.

Sirmione!!! What can I honestly say that hasn't already been said about this beauty?! In reading…read moresome of the previous reviews, the mentions of "drop dead gorgeous" quickly became a theme and rightfully so. This place is stunning beyond belief. A true encapsulation of one of Italy's brightest beauties. Sirmione is one of many island resort towns that sit on Italy's largest lake known as Lake Garda. I took a day trip to Sirmione from Milan and I was completely blown away by how immaculate it was. Walking into the resort, I was instantly enamored but the Scaligero Castle. It's the first view that you'll see when walking into town. Can you believe that? Just casually walking through town and then BOOM! A big ol' ancient castle right before your eyes. Although Sirmione isn't as popular or well known as Venice or Lake Como, it's still a wonderful place to visit. For one, the crowds aren't as heavy which makes for a more enjoyable experience (it's still a busy place though!). The beaches are walking distance from the parking lot and they are so clean, calm, and clear. The most popular beach on the resort is Jamaica Beach which is all the way at the tip of the island, but there are a few other beaches that are worthy of a visit as well. There's shopping, restaurants, and the famous Sirmione ice cream! That's right; this place is known for their giant ice cream scoops. I can confirm that the ice cream scoops are massive! The walking trails are lovely and the parks are so green. You have the beaches and walking trails on one side of the island, and then the stunning Lake Garda on the other side. It's popular to take boat rides on Lake Garda from here. What I enjoyed most was simply walking around. There are so many cute alleyways and beautiful structures to admire. And of course, laying out on the beach and catching those peaceful waves were pretty mesmerizing too. I'd say visiting Sirmione was one of my most memorable experiences while in the Lombardy region. I've been living in those memories for the past few days and I would love to visit again someday. It's truly such a magical place.

Drop dead gorgeous! The views were spectacular! It was extremely windy on the morning we visited so…read morebe sure to be dressed appropriately. We paid to park down the street before walking into the city. I would recommend spending an hour or more exploring the area. Many shops and gelaterias to explore.

We took the train from La Spezia where our hotel is to Vernazza. The train was clean and the…read moreeasiest way to get from La Spezia to Cinque Terre. It was raining when we were there so the ferry wasn't an option with the choppy water. Vernazza is beautiful. I think it's my favorite of Cinque Terre. From the train station down to the harbor was a short walk with lots of touristy shops, restaurants, and gelato shops. The buildings are so colorful. Walk down to the harbor to look back at Vernazza to see all the colorful buildings lined up next to each other. It's a gorgeous sight.

Coming from Monterosso on the Blue Trail, this was the first town you come to. Vernazza had the…read moremost breathtaking aerial view with the small harbor and quintessential Italian seaside community feeling to it. We descended down into Vernazza, and I immediately adored its vibe. I loved the tiny stone streets packed with stores and restaurants on either side. There are plenty of places to eat and shop and lots to explore here. We were in for a long day hiking, so we just went and sat by the water in the harbor and watched the kids play and swim. It was picturesque. If we were to return to Cinque Terre, this would definitely be one of the towns to spend more time in.

Great castle tour. I would recommend this being done along with another experience like visiting…read moreone of the Parma ham locations. It will only take about two hours total and then the cute little town doesn't have much else to offer beside a good coffee with a quaint view.