The Italian Riviera is not short of rugged coastline or romantic towns and villages, but the five fishing communities of the Cinque Terre are its most iconic highlight. The villages are no longer the isolated hamlets they once were, but there’s still a feeling of remote authenticity, with few roads, perfectly preserved architecture and a network of stunning coastal and mountain trails.

Cinque Terre, which means Five Lands in Italian, comprise the five small, coastal villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso.  These are the types of villages to take in slowly, whether by trail, boat, or train, and all the villages are known for their beauty you’d probably recognize in travel photos and ads.  Learn all about these very popular villages. Have you been to the Cinque Terre?