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Cinque Terre with a walking challenged spouse

Posted by on

We are taking a Western Mediterranean cruise in mid September, 2017. Our first port is La Spezia and we've been looking forward to visiting the towns of Cinque Terre. My wife is mobile, to a point, meaning a full day of climbing hills might be difficult for her.

My strategy is to take the train from La Spezia to Riomaggiore, as early in the morning as we can manage. Visit that town and make our way down to the water. From there, ferry to Monterosso and then take the train back from there to Vernazza, Manarolla and eventually back to the port in La Spezia.

From what I've seen, the trains are higher up and walking down to the water is probably manageable for my wife. Getting back up is the question. Somewhere I thought I read about some sort of public transportation within the towns?

Comments on the overall visiting strategy would be appreciated, as well as comments about how to best manage with a person whose walking can sometimes be an issue. We are prepared to go as slow and easy as possible, of course.

David

Posted by
1710 posts

There is no transport within these very small towns. No one can decide for you, so I'll tell you what I'd do. From the La Spezia cruise terminal, it's a flat walk to the ferry dock. Take the ferry to beautiful Portovenere and tour it. You can see much of that town and its stunning setting with almost no climbing. Continue by ferry to Manarola, skipping Riomaggiore, and tour that. Hopefully she can manage a similar effort to see the next stop, Vernazza. Then either continue on the ferry to Monterosso or take the train to La Spezia and enjoy a flat walk along La Spezia's lively pedestrian streets and gardens back to the cruise terminal. You will have enjoyed much of the area's charm.

Posted by
8102 posts

If the path between Riomaggiore and Manarola is open it is easy and flat and a lovely walk.

Posted by
1540 posts

You can take the boat along the CT and see all the towns. You can get off in those you want to explore, or just enjoy a great boat ride with beautiful views.
Good way to see all the towns.... We rode from north to south and then took the train back to Monterosso (to our hotel.)

Posted by
32222 posts

eb,

Is there a particular reason you chose Riomaggiore? A few points to consider.....

  • Depending on which track you arrive on, you may have to use the Sottopassagio (transfer tunnel) and that involves stairs.
  • the small main street of the town has an incline so walking uphill / downhill would be required.
  • "making our way down to the water" (Ferry dock) involves walking down stairs, around the cliff on a narrow passageway and then down some stairs built into the rocks.

You'll have to determine if your wife can manage that. AFAIK, the paved trail from Riomaggiore to Manarola (Via dell' Amore) will NOT be open in 2017.

The Ferry dock in Monterosso is in the "old town", so there will be about a 10-15 minute walk to reach the rail station which is in the "new town". It's mostly level so not a difficult walk, but there will be stairs to reach the rail platforms (unless you walk up the road at the side of the station).

You'll also need to negotiate a flight of stairs to get from the rail platforms in Vernazza down to the main street of the town. Once you're on the street, it's reasonably level to go to the bottom and around the corner to the harbour. There are also stairs in the transfer tunnels in Manarola and again if you want to go to the small Bar that's at the beginning of the trail to Riomaggiore.

It's hard for any of us here to judge the degree of your wife's walking ability, so it's difficult to make many suggestions.

Posted by
1589 posts

She might have some difficulty getting on /off these boats, especially if the Med is a little active.

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