Passing through Cinque Terre, there is no doubt that Corniglia will be one of your stops. If you…read morehave heard anything about Corniglia, it is actually all true and the steps to the top lead to a reward of your own choice. Will it be gelato? Another hike to the next village? Lunch? Church? Most likely it will be gelato but while you're at it pacing your way through the narrow main street of shops, stop into Fanny Bazar. It's a typical gift shop but one with hand crafted ceramics. The saucers and cups are glossed with lovely rich shades. I couldn't carry them home in my suitcase but did have space for a magnet. The shopkeeper, who is also the ceramic artist, is really nice!

Fairly priced, beautiful hand painted items that make great souvenirs. I got a few small pieces…read moreand use them everyday. They remind me of my time in Cinque Terre everytime I use them!

Gayle and I arrived in Riomaggiore via boat, and since the town is built vertically, there's a…read more"bit" of climbing required if you want to look around. Closer to the dock, I noticed the Galleria D'arte Sciaccheart di Paola Bella and made it a point to stop by before getting back on the ferry. The Gallery represents various artists in the area, and I was particularly struck by a "modern" Cinque Terre series that was both unique and beautiful. I though it was a pretty good value at 70 Euros (framed) and enjoyed discussing the possible purchase with a nicely accomodating and helpful propietor. When I'm a tourist in a strange land, I like local, unique, nicely done, and with no schlock. If you agree, Galleria D'arte Sciaccheart is the place for you.

Our fish and chips (12.90€) were okay. Squeeze of lemon on the fish tasted good. 50cents for 2…read moresmall packs of ketchup.

This place is absolutely stunning! Room 503 is the top room is the way to go and the view is…read moreincredible. There are at least eight flights of stairs, so back packing is a must. Unless you like carrying bricks up so many flights. Building 49 has many flights of stairs as well, but leads you up to the roof overlooking the ocean. Unobstructed! There are several rooftop locations you can go to. I encountered some Sunday there's who genuinely hate bathing suit's LOL :-) you get a 10% off coupon for the restaurant where you check in, but the restaurant isn't very big so seats are limited, be mindful of the time when you are hungry. There is air-conditioning, TV, no refrigerator, but who wants to carry food around when you can just find from the multiple restaurants and vendors along the Piazza. If you have hiked hear from any of the other locations on the trail my sincere kudos. It is quite a journey. Make sure you check the news or with the local tourist agency, or the hotel to see if there are any mud slides that may alter your path. There's nothing like looking out your window, hearing the church bells, the ocean, and the people below. There are musicians constantly playing in the piazza that providing an ambience that is genuinely unforgettable!

Reviewing this as a tourist visiting via cruise:…read more This place was walking distance from the La Spezia port, so a great place to buy some Italian chocolates to take home. They do have Baci Perugina here - I got 200g boxes for €5,99 which was 1/3 of the price for the same box I saw at the airport. There's also a variety of other chocolates that all looked really good. It's Italian chocolate, I don't think you can go wrong there! :) Note: plastic bags are €0,10, so bring your own if you have one.

This place is really amazing if your looking for outdoor antiques; statues, rusty lawn furniture…read moreand huge gates. They even have beautiful old antique Italian tiles but even the tiles are 40€ or more. Everything was outrageously expensive in my view, even small things were 100€ or more often 300 to 400€. We left without purchasing anything but if you've got loads of money and are looking for lawn ornamentation or tiles, this is your place!

When I visit a strange land, one of the fist things I want is a map and maybe a few postcards…read more There's lots of choices that way in Monterosso Al Mare, and this is the first one that I happened upon that had what I was looking for. The only problem with that is when I visit another place and find even more that I like.

This "Tabacchi" is located on Via Capellini and right at the City Wall entrance. I'm sure that this…read moreplace has a more formal name, but sometimes reviewing receipts and pictures after a trip doesn't tell the whole story. What struck Gayle and I about this particular establishment was the love of cats by the owner. One particular cancer-ridden feline that she owned tugged at our heart strings. Inside was some cool cat-themed trinkets, some nice cheap ceramic pieces, and postcards.

Gayle and I found the perfect souvenir shirt for my Son here. It was red and black and with an…read moreartistic Cinque Terre theme. And while we were here, we had the opportunity to look at Spagnuolo Vito's nice selection of shoes. This place is also another example of a place that accepts credit cards, but appreciates you business even more if you pay in cash.