Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre translates simply as Five Lands, but there is nothing simple about what this stretch of the Ligurian coastline delivers. The five villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore cling to sheer cliffs above the Mediterranean, connected by over 100 kilometres of trails that have linked these communities for centuries. The area is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Italy's most celebrated national parks.

The walking here is coastal at its most dramatic. The Sentiero Azzurro, or Blue Trail, traces the clifftops between all five villages, passing through terraced vineyards, fragrant lemon groves and ancient stone-walled paths with the Ligurian Sea shimmering far below. Each village has its own distinct character, and arriving on foot, rather than by train, is the only way to understand what makes this corner of Italy so special truly.

End each day with freshly caught seafood, a glass of local Sciacchetrà wine and views that justify every step of the climb.