The Cinque Terre
The region Liguria forms a coastal strip nearly 30 kilometers wide, between the sea and mountains that rise rapidly.
It is the historic land of the Republic of Genoa, a city that was a powerful maritime Republic. It played a major role in Europe for centuries, and Genoa is now the regional capital.
Liguria can be divided into two parts, first the Riviera di Ponente, whose coast faces east. It extends from France to Genoa. As for the the Riviera di Levante, it extends on the other side of Genoa to Tuscany, with a coast facing west.
The first riviera has many beaches, while the second has a very indented coast, with small harbors nestled in the heart of coves, from the very chic Portofino to the Cinque Terre. The latter are five charming villages between sea and cliffs at the foot of hills cut by characteristic ancient agricultural terraces.
A main characteristic of the region is its mountainous relief, with its Ligurian Alps. Moving away from the coast, one climbs very quickly along winding roads and small villages that are difficult to access. Although distances as the crow flies are short, the travel time to explore this hinterland can be long.
This difficult relief gave Liguria its personality and perhaps its inhabitants too, as many villages are relatively isolated.
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