We decided to make Genoa our home base for three nights so we could explore the Cinque-Terre, the French Riviera and Lake Como. Besides offering a place to put our heads down at night, Genoa surprised us with its beauty and charm. I was expecting a large, gritty port city. Instead, the area boasts museums, palaces (42 of which are part of the Palazzi dei Rolli UNESCO site), churches and even an aquarium. (more…)
In my effort to show my family places I visited in Europe in the 1980’s, we went to Portofino. In 1985, the stop was towards the end of a 7-day Ocean Lines cruise that departed Venice and ended in Nice. What I remember most about Portofino was shopping at Benetton. Remember their advertisements “United Colors of Benetton?” Back then, Benetton stores were all over Europe (some just a few blocks away from each other) much like Starbucks in the US today. (more…)
Once we got settled into our hotel room in Genoa, we were ready to start our day trips. The most important one for me was to explore the Cinque Terre (5 Lands) area about an hour’s drive south.
Fortunately, we saw the two southernmost towns of Riomaggiore and Manarola the previous evening on the way to Genoa. Each of the towns is pedestrian-only so driving by car can be cumbersome. You have to pay to park in a lot usually a good walk from the town and on weekends in the summer, you might not find parking at all. In our research, we learned that four of the five towns are connected by boat service. There were different prices for just the boat ride, stopping at each town, etc. We also read that train travel is another simple way to see the towns, which are only about five minutes apart. (more…)
If you’ve ever read Rick Steves’ travel books, you’ll know he is a big fan of Italy’s Cinque-Terre. Translated as “Five Lands”, the Cinque-Terre region consists of five fishing villages along the Ligurian coast in northwest Italy. Located about halfway between Genoa and Florence, it’s an easy day trip by car or train. Trains also depart from Milan, located 130 miles north of the region.
The problem may be in deciding which of the five villages to visit: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterossa al Mare. Connected by 11 kilometers of hiking trails, each of these has its own distinctive personality and vibe. Fortunately we were able to visit all five villages in a 24-hour period. (more…)