The cool breeze brought the smell of salt water into the air and the smell of fresh fococcia bread filled the streets. There were stray cats and people speaking with their hands everywhere we looked. There, next to the train, stood a single blue sign with white writing that read “Manarola.” On the left side of the train we almost couldn’t believe our eyes. We emerged from the tunnel to see the bluest of blue waters you could imagine.  The streets were small. Cobblestone. You could tell they’d been traveled on for centuries. They had stories, history. We passed the first few storefronts until we found our street name, we looked up at the long brick path ahead of us that went to the very top of the cliff. Our house for the week was at the very top.

The pink paint was chipped and it’s green shutters sat crooked on their hinges. It’s character matched that of every other home in the village. Cinque Terre, Italy. A land that seemed like it was lost in time. No cars were allowed on the streets, the store owners and farmers had been there for generations, and the cliffsides were chiseled away at the rock to build natural step-like landscapes to support the vineyards that have been here for generation after generation.

Our first stop? Pizza and gelato of course. We went into the pizza shoppe closest to the water where an old Italian man insisted on teaching us how to order our meal in Italian. We went back there 2-3 meals a day for 5 days. No joke. AFTER our meals, actually. Fococcia Margherita Pizza is to.die.for.

We stayed in Manarola, the second town of the five villages. Our train came from La Spezia and we explored every nook and cranny the town had to offer.  Our next day we hiked the 9km trail from the first to last town. These are the pictures from Manarola and Cornelia, the second and third towns. 

Cinque Terre, is without a doubt the most breathtaking place I’ve ever witnessed. With every step, we couldn’t believe the beauty that surrounded us.  The houses, the boats, the landscape, the sea, all of it was spectacular! Scott and I knew we had to return, and have done so once since. I can’t wait to be back again!

I hope you enjoyed the first of many Wandering Wednesdays! Stay tuned for Ireland adventures next week and Cinque Terre Part 2 next month!