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hiking cinque terra

My family of four are going to cinque terra next week with a florenceforfun tour, that takes us there & back, including the boat ride to the last 2 towns. I would love to hike it, but am a little afraid of heights. Is there a paved path w/ a railing along the cliffs (which I will be fine with), or are you walking along an edge w/ a sheer drop below? Also, my husband walks w/ a sight cane (he can see a little). Would he be able to do this? Finally, if we start to walk & realize we can't, how hard is it to go back & get a train to the next town

Posted by
11247 posts

I would advise against hiking given your situation. The first time we hiked it we realizes that in the U.S. parts would be off limit and much more would have railings. There are, however, lovely walks around the towns you can take more safely than the coastal trail. Do you have Rick Steves' guide to Italy? In it there are self-guided walks in all of the towns that will take you to some terrific views and give you a feel for the towns outside of the shopping streets. Have fun!

Posted by
32171 posts

dr.ms,

I agree with Laurel that given the specifics of your situation, hiking the Cinque Terrre trails would not be a good idea. A few facts to consider.....

  • Only two of the Sentiero Azzurro trails are currently open, and those two segments are the most challenging. Starting in Monterosso there's quite a steep climb to get up the level of the trail, and from there to Vernazza there are a few narrow sections with no hand rails. The trail from Vernazza to Corniglia also has a few challenging sections.
  • Unfortunately, the segment with the "paved path with a railing along the cliffs" (the Via dell' Amore) from Manarola to Riomaggiore is currently closed, and will likely remain that way until next year. However, there is a short section open from the Manarola end which would allow you a bit of an ocean view.
  • It would be best (IMO) not to try hiking with the idea that you can "go back and get a train to the next town". Once you're up on the trail, it's going to be equally difficult to either proceed or to go back.
  • It's VERY EASY to take the local trains between the towns. Tickets are cheap and each trip is only about 10 minutes. The trains can be crowded at times. You will have to navigate a few stairs on and off the train. In the same situation, I'd probably just remain standing in the vestibule as there's hardly time to sit down.

I suspect that you'll get enough walking in the towns to keep you busy, especially in Monterosso which has both a "new town" and an "old town". At a slower speed, it will take you 10-15 minutes to hike from one to the other (it's all paved and mostly level).

Posted by
5188 posts

Dr. Ms,

I agree with the others, it's not a good idea for you or your husband to hike the trails.
I traveled to CT a few years ago with my elderly mother, & we did not hike the trails.

We only walked on the (flat) paved 'Via dell' Amore' pathway (connecting Manarola with Riomaggiore) which is now only partially open- only 300 meters on the Manarola side.

You can google 'Via dell' Amore' to see photos & decide if you'll be okay walking this as it's along the cliff but equipped with handrails.

We also enjoyed visiting the other villages via train. As Ken mentioned, the trains travel frequently & it only takes a few minutes to travel from one village to the next (tickets are very inexpensive) We did not visit Corniglia, as it's high up on the cliff & we didn't want to climb the multitude of stairs to reach it, but there is a bus that can take you there, if you wish to visit.

You may want to search these websites of CT:

Have a wonderful trip!

Posted by
504 posts

Great info above! Wanted to ask a related question about hiking some of the trails. My wife and I are both relatively fit. However, my wife is recovering from a foot injury but will be fully healed by the time we are in Monterosso (for 4 days). Though her foot will be healed, she won't be in tip top shape, so wondering about the difficulty level-fitness wise of some of the trails. Any "easier" routes/trails that are open you could recommend? We are fine with a leisurely pace and stopping often for pictures and even rest breaks if needed. Seems so many options, I'm having a hard time focusing on this. Thanks for your insight and advice!

Posted by
32171 posts

Jed,

It's a bit difficult to give a definite opinion on whether hiking might be possible for your wife, but a few thoughts.....

  • The most challenging section is from Monterosso to Vernazza, as there's quite a steep climb to begin with. Once you're up at the level of the trail, it's quite pleasant (although there are some narrow sections). If you take it slowly with the climb, you should be able to manage (you may have to move over at times for the "speedy" hikers on the uphill portion).
  • THIS Photo provides an example of part of the trail on the Monterosso - Vernazza segment (you can see some intrepid hikers in the photo).
  • The section from Vernazza to Corniglia is somewhat easier but also has a few challenging spots. You could always try that one first to see how you manage.
  • A short section of the Via dell' Amore is open from the Manarola end (about 300 metres) and that one will easily be walkable.