The Five Villages on Foot: Sentiero Azzurro
Strung like coloured beads along a rugged Ligurian cliff, the five villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare are best understood on foot. The Sentiero Azzurro — Blue Trail — stitches them together along a path that swings between vineyard terraces, sea-scented pines and heart-stopping drops to turquoise water.
The Route
The full trail covers roughly 12 km and links all five villages in sequence, with the most dramatic stretch running between Vernazza and Monterosso — a 3.8 km leg that climbs to 208 m before tumbling back to the sea.
The short Via dell'Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola (1 km, almost flat) reopened in 2024 after a decade of restoration and is now the most photographed kilometre in Liguria.
Each village rewards a pause: Vernazza's piazza sits right on a natural harbour, and Manarola's cluster of ochre and rose buildings above a rocky inlet is the image that sells a thousand postcards.
Practical Tips
A Cinque Terre Card (from €7.50/day) covers trail access and unlimited Trenitalia hops between villages — essential if legs give out halfway.
Start at Riomaggiore early (before 9 am) to beat tour groups and catch the morning light bouncing off the harbour walls.
Some sections close seasonally for maintenance; always check the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre website the day before you walk.
The Five Villages on Foot: Sentiero Azzurro on video
More of Cinque Terre
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Cinque Terre →
