Cinque Terre

The charm of these 5 villages lining the rugged Ligurian coast is undeniable.

Set amid some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on the planet, these five ingeniously constructed fishing villages can bolster the most jaded of spirits. Sinuous paths traverse seemingly impregnable cliff sides, while a 19th-century railway line cut through a series of coastal tunnels ferries the footsore from village to village. Local fisherman provide the towns with fresh seafood which is masterfully served up at restaurants with unparalleled views of the ocean. Rooted in antiquity, Cinque Terre’s five villages date from the early medieval period.

A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, Cinque Terre isn’t the undiscovered Eden it once was but, frankly, who cares?