We will be driving a car from Garfagnana area of Tuscany (near Lucca)to Manarola. It sounds like we should NOT try to drive to Manarola and park. La Spazia sounds busy and difficult. Where is the easiest place to leave the car for 2 nights while we go to Manarola, etc.?
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
With very limited exceptions (a few hotels have their own parking lots), tourist cars are not permitted in the CT. However, there are two parking lots - one above Riomaggiore and one above Monterosso. During the busy season, both fill up and they often close off the roads to these lots (says so at www.cinqueterreonline.com). The closest place to leave your car is La Spezia or there are two lots in Levanto (shown is RS' book) but these can fill up as well.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Lucca has a big parking lot at the train station so you could train from there. Look at schedules first to minimize time waiting for transfers - www.trenitalia.it (Lucca to La Spezia
Posted by
Mansfield, GA
850 posts
There is a parking lot above Vernazza. 12 Euro per night as of last May. Narrow curvy roads to get there and although it was not full when we were there it is not a huge paking lot so I could see where it could max out quickly.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
We were there in mid October and could have parked in the small lot above Vernazza. If it was busy, the parking lot would fill up fast.
We weren't aware there was any parking so we parked in La Spezia. It took me near an hour to drop off the family at the station, find a parking spot and walk back to the station. The parking near the station was full and didn't seem safe (lots of trash and broken glass, iffy people hanging around). I ended up parking near the naval base after asking an Italian naval officer for a good place to park for several days.
I worried about the safety of the car the entire time in CT. Fortunately, it was fine when I came back for it.