Cinque Terre holidays

Cinque Terre holidays aren’t the secret escape they once were. But no one seems to mind. Tucked between Genoa and Pisa on the Italian Riviera, this seductive six-mile stretch of tumbling towns and pastel-coloured buildings is perfect if you’re after an idyllic Italian getaway with a side of adventure. Follow sinuous hiking trails through its five villages, stopping at various beauty spots en route to appreciate sweeping views of the Ligurian Sea and coast. Linger a little at the characteristic cluster of hillside houses in Riomaggiore, weave through Vernazza’s tangle of caruggi (narrow streets) and pull up a deckchair on Monterosso’s (the westernmost village in the quintet) stretch of sandy beach. Cars were banned over a decade ago (thankfully) but those with sore feet need not worry. The 19th-century railway linking the villages means every type of traveller gets to appreciate the UNESCO-listed stop-you-in-your-tracks beauty on Cinque Terre holidays. Read more