A Region Frozen in Time

Clinque Terre is a region frozen in time. It has 5 villages dated from the early medieval period, Monterosso the oldest of the villages was founded in AD 643. This town never joined the bandwagon to modern development like the rest of Italy did over the past 100 years. This is due to the entrance of the town, two narrow cliff-hugging roads which limited them from a lot of things though they want to keep it that way. Tourist can enter Clinque Terre by train, boat, or on foot hiking on trails which allows traveler's to see views of vineyards, terraced farms, and seascapes. Also since this is a heritage site and a national park since 1999 they have banned cars from entering.

Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are the 5 villages in Clinque Terre.

• Monterosso al Mare also known as Monterosso stated above is the oldest village out of the 5, and is the most popular among young people because there is a long beach in the front of the town.

• Vernazza perhaps the most beautiful central square of the villages, right on the water and a church tower on one side. This village has a ruined castle on one of the hills overlooking Vernazza.

• Corniglia the only village not on the water, hangs on a cliff that requires traveler's for a steep hike to the top. At nighttime once the hikers have left Corniglia quiets down.

• Manarola is a lot of rustic and less modernized than the rest of Clinque Terre, due to this reason, traveler's find it more special and less populated with other tourists.

• Riomaggiore is on a dramatic angle from the water, in some places in this village it’s hard to tell your still next to the ocean.

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