One Day In Cinque Terre

By Leora Kahn

Cinque Terre: The Most Beautiful Place In The World!

These 5 cities on Italy's coast will make you wish you were Italian.

Let’s say you only have one day to visit these five beautiful cities. Can it be done? Oh yes it can. These cities are available by a quick train ride that stops at each destination.

Or, if you are feeling adventurous, you can hike! Here is what a few of my friends and I did with our one day in Cinque Terre.

First stop: Levanto. 

Now this town is not part of Cinque Terre, but I highly recommend it! Levanto is on the outskirts of Cinque Terre, and we were able to find a quaint bed and breakfast for the duration of our trip. We explore the town a little bit before headed to our first village, Monterroso.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEORA

After Levanto, we decided to take a less than five-minute train ride to Monterosso.

We ventured into the first village of Cinque Terre; Monterosso. Determined to find a wine tasting, we searched all over and attempted our best Italian 101 basics. What we found was more than we could have imagined.

We climbed up a muddy pathway to the top of a hill to find an old woman baking and serving wine. We ordered the best white and red wine I’ve ever tasted. Next was the famous Sciacchetra, which they prided themselves on because Obama himself tasted it at their vineyard (they immediately brought us his personal framed thank you once they found out we were from around DC).

And finally, Limoncino which is crazy strong and delicious. Not to mention the never-ending supply of bruschetta and pastries. The view, the wine, the food, and the company, made this without a doubt my favorite part of Europe.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEORA

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEORA

From there, we then hiked to Vernazza!

The five of us 20 something-year-olds couldn't catch our breath after climbing mountains without a finish in sight. But the hike was well worth it once Vernazza came into view. This trail is the longest of the four walks with a distance of 3.6 kilometers.

We obviously stopped numerous times to take pictures and videos and to take in our surroundings as much as possible. There were few times I was nervous over the edges, but people of all ages were embarking on the trail.

It was really interesting to see people from all over the world walking the same path my friends and I were traveling on. Like I said, the hike is long and tiring, but once you round the corner and see your first glimpse of Vernazza...well you really must see it in person to get the full perspective, but it is truly breathtaking.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEORA

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEORA

Once in Vernazza, we were starved!

We found a cute restaurant overlooking the water where we each ordered authentic Italian meals. I can still taste the amazing gnocci and gelato!

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEORA

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEORA

After lunch, we decided we had done enough hiking for one day.

We took a train ride through the other cities, Corniglia, Riomaggiore, and then stopped in Manarola for the sunset. We enjoyed walking around the town, exploring shops and getting to know the locals. We then walked to the highest most point of the town for some Sangria and the best view of the village. This was by far, my favorite part of the day. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEORA

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEORA

“Traveling is like flirting with life. It’s like saying, ‘I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.’ " - Lisa St. Aubin de Teran

If you ever get the chance to visit any one of these beautiful cities, I would say, you absolutely must. One day is definitely just a taste of all there is to see, and I cannot wait to go back again soon!

Have you been to Cinque Terre and have some tips to add? Let us know below!

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Leora is the Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator for Travel Italian Style and is a Marketing student at James Madison University. In the spring of 2015, she was accepted to study business in Antwerp, Belgium, which allowed her to explore Europe and open her eyes to new opportunities and experiences. Needless to say, she is now consumed with a passion to travel! Leora loves to document her travel stories through all types of social media in order to share with everyone the happiness that accompanies exploration.  Leora spent time travelling through 11 countries during her time abroad, while Italy was hands down her favorite due to the blissful culture, beautiful scenery, and tasty food. She cannot wait to visit again soon!

Day Trips From Florence, Italy

By Kelsey Gibson

Day Trips from Florence

            While there are numerous things to do in Florence, day trips are the perfect way to travel if you have limited time and want to see somewhere new!

Here are a few places that are perfect for a one-day trip:

Verona

Many Italians are very proud of the little town called Verona because it is one of the first cities travelers from the north go through. Located in between the popular cities of Milan and Venice, it is a pure depiction of simplicity and romance and is home to the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. Here you can write love letters and wishes on paper and stick it on the walls below Juliet’s balcony in hopes that she will make these love wishes come true.

You can spend hours reading these heartfelt, passionate, and unforgettable letters of people from around the world. Even though Verona is mostly known for the setting of Romeo and Juliet, it has much more to offer. The Piazza delle Erbe is a beautiful open square full of markets selling all kinds of souvenirs during the day and full of people having an apertivo during the evening. This renaissance town is also home to their exquisite Arena of Verona.

This arena resembles Rome’s Colosseum, and even though it is smaller in size, it is still an incredible sight worth seeing! Verona has many attractions and sights to see, but it is also the perfect place to sit back, relax with a glass of wine, and enjoy the beauty of the architecture and people or even take a stroll around the whole town in just an hour or so! Definitely a must do day trip and is only about 3 hours away via train from Florence!

PHOTO BY KELSEY, JULIET'S BALCONY

PHOTO BY KELSEY, PIAZZA DELLE ERBE

Cinque Terre

While working in Florence, the Amalfi Coast was hard for me to get to since it was a bit further away. I would have had to take a couple days off to really embrace the gorgeous beauty of it all and did not want to cut my time short. However, the next best place to enjoy the coastal cliffs of the Italian Riviera is Cinque Terre, meaning the 5 lands. These 5 ‘lands’ include Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Cinque Terre is the perfect place for a quick getaway full of sunshine, clear blue water, and some limoncello! The train is easy to hop on and off of to get to each different ‘land’; however, if you are going in the middle of the summer be prepared for the crowds.

My advice would definitely to try to avoid peak season, but it is still well worth the visit! You can also opt out of the train hopping and take a ferry, which I definitely recommend, because you are able to have a different perspective of the cliffs from the water. The last option is to hike between the different towns.

These hikes are a little more strenuous than a stroll through a park, but the views from above are worth a little bit of sweat! Everyone needs a little exercise after some limoncello and pesto too, right!?

If you want to avoid the moving around, pick a place and stick to it! Monterosso al Mare definitely has the most beach area to relax on and it is easy to either rent a chair and umbrella or you can set up your own towel on one of the public beaches! Either way, you get to enjoy the same view! This trip from Florence to Cinque Terre is also about 2.5 hours, but can have at least one, maybe two different train changes (most likely Pisa and La Spezia).

PHOTO BY KELSEY, CINQUE TERRE

PHOTO BY KELSEY, CINQUE TERRE

Chianti

When thinking of day trips from Florence, you don’t have to go too far to have an incredible day experience. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when thinking of Tuscany…WINE! What better of a day trip than a wine tasting in an old vineyard somewhere in the hills of Tuscany. Better yet, why not the land of the black rooster, Chianti! Joining a tour to Chianti for the day was easily one of my favorite days in Italy last summer.

Driving from Florence through the winding roads of Tuscany is truly unbelievable and makes you feel as though you are in the middle of a movie. Pictures do no justice here. Last summer I took a cooking class and wine tasting through the restaurant Touch at the Colle Bereto vineyard and it all took my breath away!

The drive out there would be enough within itself; however, when you arrive to these old vineyards, you really get to enjoy the passion, pride, and love of these winemakers while they tell you the history behind each one of their wines. Best part about organized tours to a vineyard, is that you won’t have to worry about the driving after a couple glasses of wine! Time and distance varies depending on where exactly you decide to go, but on average, Chianti is about 30 min – 1.5 hours away!

PHOTO BY KELSEY

PHOTO BY KELSEY, CHIANTI

Florence is a spectacular place and there are so many surrounding places to see. 

Need some more tips and ideas for taking a day trip while visiting Italy? Contact our Custom Travel team here

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Kelsey is the Part Time Assistant Travel Consultant for Travel Italian Style and is a student at the University of Mississippi studying Hospitality Management with a minor in Spanish and Business Administration. Kelsey took part in an exchange program in Argentina in high school which created a flourishing passion for travel and learning about other cultures. From then on she took every advantage to study abroad and backpack through Europe. This past summer, Kelsey interned for a local restaurant, Touch, in Florence, Italy and fell in love with the Italian culture. She was able to have a real local experience by making friends with coworkers and locals. She wants to make it possible for everyone who travels to be completely immersed into the culture in order to gain another perspective and to be able to enjoy life even more.

How Italian Culture Changed Me For the Better

By Leora Kahn

A trip to Italy can change your life.

Don't be scared to let travel change you for the better.

In the spring of 2015, I was accepted to study business at the University of Antwerp in Belgium. To say I was excited was an understatement, but more than anything I was nervous. Nervous to leave the comfort and familiarity of my friends, nervous to miss out on memories being made without me, and nervous to be thousands of miles away with strangers. At that point I wished someone had told me that I had absolutely nothing to be nervous about. Those strangers quickly turned into family, and the whereabouts and activities of my friends back at school took a back seat. I was off visiting a new country each weekend, accumulating hundreds of priceless memories. When I returned home, the most frequent question I was asked was, “What was your favorite part?” To me, this is an impossible question. Everything I saw was incredible. Each weekend a new culture full of new foods, people, architecture, and customs. Favorite experience? St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, Ireland. But favorite country? Hands down, no questions asked, Italy.

"You may have the universe if I may have Italy." -Guiseppe Verdi

Towards the end of our program, a few of us took advantage of a long weekend and flew into Milan. From there we caught a train to Levanto, a beautiful city on the outskirts of Cinque Terre. For those of you that don’t know, Cinque Terre literally translates to the five cities, made up of Manarola, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Monterossa al Mare, and Corniglia. Levanto in itself was breathtaking. We stayed at an apartment rented out by a family owned bed and breakfast. Our view from our balcony was beautiful and quaint and everything I could’ve possibly asked for. The first few hours set the stage for the rest of the trip. All of the locals I encountered wore their values on their sleeves. There were caring and gentle and familiar with us, complete strangers.

The first town we ventured to was Monterrosso, my personal favorite. We were determined to find a wine tasting, and what we found was more than we could have imagined. We climbed up a muddy pathway to the top of a hill, only to find an old woman baking and serving wine.

PHOTO BY LEORA KAHN

We ordered the best white and red wine I’ve ever tasted. Next was the famous Sciacchetra, which they prided themselves on because Obama himself tasted it at their vineyard (they immediately brought us his personal framed thank you once they found out we were from around DC). And finally, Limoncino which is crazy strong and delicious. Not to mention the never ending supply of bruschetta and pastries. So to answer the longing question, the view, wine, food, and company, made this without a doubt, my favorite part of Europe.

PHOTO BY LEORA KAHN

The next day we hiked from Monterosso to Vernazza for lunch. Later we visited Manarola and climbed to the top to see an incredible view and sip on phenomenal sangria and pina coladas. The moment I looked out over the beautiful town, I knew that I had been changed for the better. Never in my life had I been so relaxed, so at peace with myself. Traveling can be a pain with the details and planning, but the reward in the culture and the memories is beyond worth it. Whenever I feel stressed or anxious, I know to go to my happy places. Which are the beautiful vineyard in Monterosso, and the top of Manarola, with a sangria in my hand, surrounded by the beautiful Italian culture.

PHOTO BY LEORA KAHN

"Travel, not to find yourself, but to remember who you've been all along."

Take a trip with Travel Italian Style and experience the life changing Italy for yourself.

How has traveling changed your life? I would love to hear your comments below!

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Meet Leora Kahn

Leora is the Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator for Travel Italian Style and is a Marketing student at James Madison University. In the spring of 2015, she was accepted to study business in Antwerp, Belgium, which allowed her to explore Europe and open her eyes to new opportunities and experiences. Needless to say, she is now consumed with a passion to travel! Leora loves to document her travel stories through all types of social media in order to share with everyone the happiness that accompanies exploration.  Leora spent time travelling through 11 countries during her time abroad, while Italy was hands down her favorite due to the blissful culture, beautiful scenery, and tasty food. She cannot wait to visit again soon!