Levanto is the ideal starting point to visit one of the most evocative territories in the world: the Cinque Terre, a coastal area within the Ligurian Riviera, Italy.
Surely, the Cinque Terre Express is an good solution if you want to experience the real atmosphere of this land having one of the most amazing Italian rail trip.
So, let’s find out more about it and how does it works.
What’s the Cinque Terre Express and how much is it?
The Cinque Terre is a regional train that connects Levanto to La Spezia city. There is a departure every 30 minutes but this special train runs only during the spring and the summer time.
It is the ideal solution if you want to have a global view on one of the most spectacular panoramic views not only in Italy, but all over the world, too.
The train stops in all the five villages of the Cinque Terre Park: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
As the National Geographic says, this place is a real European treasure and it is also an example among all the most famous destinations, due to its ability to preserve its authenticity made of traditions, local culture, sustainability and tourism.
The Cinque Terre Express costs 4 euros for adults and 2 euros for children up to 12 years old. It is also possible to choose another solution, the Cinque Terre Card Treno MS, made for those who are planning to have more than 4 travels in the same daytime. This card is convenient but the price is different from the Cinque Terre Express. The one-day Cinque Terre Card Treno MS costs 16 euros for adults (10 euros for children and teens); the two-days card costs 29 euros. It allows to have unlimited travels and several benefits such as the access to the Cinque Terre National Park.
Both the cards are a good way to have a sustainable trip, leaving the car for a few days.
What about the Cinque Terre
With the name “Cinque Terre” Italians refers to a little slice of the Ligurian coast and its five villages. They are perched on the sea and surrounded by the macchia Mediterranean scrub and blue sea water.
Colorful houses, hills and sea: this is the show that will surround you while walking in the Cinque Terre National Park. It is covered by paths that go up and down along the rocky wall. Let’s have a look on the panorama: it is so beautiful that it looks like a painting, almost surreal.
If you come from La Spezia, the first village is Riomaggiore, a small town rich in history set on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Time seems to have stopped in Riomaggiore. It seems as the clock of the time has stopped ticking so that it is more comfortable to listen to the sound of the sea breaking against the small boats of the fishermen docked at the marina.
Walking along the Via dell’Amore you will arrive in Manarola and then in Vernazza and Corniglia. This last one is a small village perched on the sea and there are 365 steps, one for each day of the year, from the village to the beach.
Finally, you will arrive in Monterosso. This is the village where the Italian poet Montale took inspiration and where he lived when he was a child.
These are all suggestive and steeped in history places, where you are free to unleash your imagination by admiring the incredible views that the area offers.
