Located on the west coast of Italy, a part of the Italian Riviera is the ever increasingly popular National Park of Cinque Terre. Millions visit the area every year from Florence and Rome, making it a top destination for travelers.
The appeal of The “five lands” is its sweeping landscapes, rich views, and unique adventures.
Here are my tips for visiting this enchanting location.
Catch an early train
Most people start from Florence, catch a regional train from Santa Maria Novella to La Spezia. At La Spezia you can buy your day or multi-day pass to the National Park and access to the train network in the region
If you are renting a car, park in La Spezia, and buy your pass just the same.
A small train network links the five villages (lands) running approximately every 20 minutes in each direction (north or south). This is the easiest way to get from city to city.
Note that there are no cars allowed in the cities and that there is a bus line that also connects the region but it’s less consistent and requires more walking.
The earlier you go, the better! This will help you avoid crowds and heat.
Bring your hiking shoes
There are over 70 miles of trails that links the five villages are region. The views from these trails are magnificent and offer amazing photo opportunities.
The trails are tough, but you do escape the crowds and enjoy some fantastic nature along the way.
Check trail conditions before you go, as wash outs are common.
Check your trains
Train schedules are more of a guideline than a rule in Italy. Therefore, make sure you read the schedules and allow extra time to get back to La Spezia and then your “home base” if you’re doing a day trip.
Allow time
If you can, stay a couple nights and truly take in the cities!
Off season or bust
If you can, go right at the end of summer (September/October) or right at the beginning of summer (March) so that you can enjoy the region sans millions of tourists. This allows a local connections that is often missed in June and July!
In the summer of 2013 I decided to do my study abroad in Italy, and more specifically in Florence. As a person deeply intrigued by history and the art and changes of the Italian Renaissance there was really no better city in the world I could pick to live in for six weeks. So I signed up for a program that sent me to the Santa Reparata International School of Art where I took a class for fun in Modern Italian History and a class for knowledge in the Italian Fashion Industry, maybe I got it backwards.
While in Italy I learned more than I thought humanly possible about the culture, food, people, history, art, characters, politics and many other stories that have shaped Italy in the past and continue to shape it today. What was most intriguing for me was how honest the Italian people felt. They were honest about their vanity, honest about their lust, their passion, their vulgarity and their existence as what they were and what they are today. Though eccentric or even crazy to some people; I found Italians to be a truly great people, willing to welcome you into their lives and take you into their hearts at any moment. They are benevolent in their stories, regardless of the embarrassment or secrets hidden in them. They also want you to become just a little bit Italian, and will do anything to make sure you understand, La Dolce Vita.
These photographs, mostly taken in secret, reflect what I felt and experienced in Italy, I hope they give you a similar sense of passion and love that i feel about them. Thanks for viewing.
June 2013- An accordion player sits near the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy.
Places
June 2013- A jouster representing the early Italian renaissance faces off in a classic jousting match. Unlike the kind seen at American Renaissance Festivals these matches are done traditionally, where serious injuries are common and a risk of death ever present.
June 2013- A guard stands in front of the Palazzo Vecchio in a renaissance guard costume. The costuming is part of the celebrations that lead up to St. John the Baptist’s Feast day and the Calcio Fiorentino.
June 2013-A woman, representing a crossbow-man marches through Piazza di S. Maria Novella in a parade celebrating St. John the Baptist’s Feast Day and Calcio Fiorentino.
June 2013-A referee for Calcio Fiorentino or Calcio Storico (Historic Footbal) marches with the celebratory parade before the game. Calcio Fiorentino was established by the Medici as a game to keep the masses pleased and pit neighborhoods against one another. The game is known for its violence as men in Renaissance pants play a game of football meets rugby meets MMA fighting. My history teacher in Italy played when he was 19 and walked away with a broken ankle, a broken wrist, two broken collar bones, both eyes blackened, and several cracked ribs.
June 2013-The Virgin Mary, captured in stained glass, watches over Fiesole Cathderal. Fiesole was originally home to the Etruscans an ancient civilization that lived in the mountains hills above Florence before the Roman conquest. The area that is now Florence was used for farming and full of lilies, which is where the symbol of Florence comes from. Florence was established by the Romans as a retirement community for Roman soldiers.
June 2013- A woman enjoys a gelato by the Arno river in Florence, Italy.
July 2013- A group of street musicians, known as Romdraculus play by the Duomo in Florence, Italy. Their music is all instrumental and carries on a tradition of mid-century jazz, with an Italian twist.
July 2013- A nun walks the streets of Florence, Italy around the Duomo. Many nuns come from around the world on pilgrimage to Italy to see the Vatican and many other holy sights throughout Italy.
July 2013- a young man smokes a cigarette by a restaurant in Riomaggiore, Italy. This part of Italy is known as Cinque Terre and is famous for its dramatic landscapes and ocean side views.
July 2013- A group of women enjoy a shouting match with a group of men in the streets of Riomaggiore, Italy. Public arguments are not uncommon in Italy, and often are held between family members displeased with one another.
July 2013- My gondolier politely posed for a photo while we drifted through the streets of Venice, Italy. He had been a gondolier for over 20 years and claimed he enjoyed every moment. With working vacations taking place in other parts of Europe such as Holland and Germany.
The following video clip is a trailer for a documentary that is being made of Calcio Fiorentino or Calcio Storico. For more information on the match and more video clips visit their official website. The video is for educational and contextual purposes only.
