I have been scouring our photograph collection for Valentine Day post prospects, and perhaps unsurprisingly the collection that made their way into the Romance Folder were all from Italy. But how was I to choose?
First of all I thought of MILAN and our romantic twilight by the Navigli Canal, walking afterward by the roman columns and bars to view the Duomo at night.
Next my mind went to five days in a Tuscan farmhouse where from the balcony, a glass of mellow red in hand, we watched the sun set across vineyards and villages. Where we lit a fire to take the chill from the air, as we poured over maps and devoured chunky local sausages. Where BREAKFAST ON THE TERRACE was to a soundtrack of bees buzzing on lavender/rosemary? and the bells of the sheep grazing the olive groves.
How could I not choose the photographic evidence of Seven Days perched high above the valley in CERIANA, which itself was high above San Remo, on the Italian Riviera. The bells of the church outside our door, thankfully muffled by the metre thick walls, kept our time. The back roads to villages that clung from the hilltops were scary in the extreme. So tiny themselves, but with such huge drop offs. What the roads lacked in protective rails, they made up for with mad cyclists that flew head on around corners directly at us. We thanked God that stiff coffees could be found in the village bars when we arrived in a state of shock. Then we found Dolceacqua where we walked over the romantic Monet Bridge and where we lost count of the festive floral arrangements that adorned the alleys of the old town leading ever up to the castle ruins.
But Romance thrives on excitement, and the most exciting of all was the day spent hiking the blue path that hugged the coastline of the Cinque Terre. Having begun life as a series of mule tracks, today it carries hikers along the coastline of the Cinque Terre National Park and Unesco World Heritage area.
Translating to five lands the name refers to the five villages, four of which whose streets rise up from the water and one, Corniglia that sits atop a cliff. It was early Spring 2010 and we had the mountain tracks between villages we mostly to ourselves.
PLEASE HOVER OVER THE PHOTOS FOR A DESCRIPTION.
MONTEROSSO
VERNAZZA
CORNIGLIA
MANAROLA
I thought the lover’s walk between Manarola and Riomaggiora was a little tacky, but who am I to rain on other’s romantic parades. I found the little tucked away paths that led through terraced olives and beside trickling streams to be far more romantic.
B.H. had plans of a romantic night watching the sun go down in Riomaggiora, but a quick check of the timetable had us bolting for the train station instead. I was very tired after our seven hour walk and was dreaming of a shower, but in retrospect it would have been nice to have stayed. Maybe next time.
Before you start packing your bags I must tell you that the blue path (path 2) is closed between Manarola and Corniglia due to huge landslides that have since taken the path away, but Path No. 6 provides an ALTERNATIVE ROUTE via Volastra. The train that connects the five towns is still working according to THIS SITE.
ARRIVING BY BOAT is also an option for all villages except Corniglia.
RIOMAGGIORA
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If these photos don’t tempt people to buy a ticket for Italy, I don’t know what will. Each one kept getting better.
Thanks Vera. I had so many photos, but after showing each village, there was not enough space to show the beautiful scenery between the villages.
How to choose! Europe must have some of the most romantic places! Italy is certain on my list of must go places!
I have just joined Travel Photo Thursday, and am enjoying the ride.
Welcome to Travel Photo Thursday. It is a great way to get exposure (excuse the pun). Italy is very romantic – sometimes more so in retrospect.
Stunning photos and your post brought back memories of our time in the Cinque Terre. . .a nice treat for Valentine’s Day – hope you have yourself a romantic day whereever you are.
Thanks Jackie. B.H. and I do not celebrate the day, but I have enjoyed my romantic visit down memory lane.
Gosh, they are all so romantic and make we want to visit right now. I love WA but I so miss ‘quaint and ancient’ which Italy certainly offers in bundles. Great photos, Jan.
Italy is wonderful, but as you say, so is Australia!
Italy was already high on my must see list but now its even higher!
Thanks Muza.
I am drooling over these gorgeous photos. This has long been on my dream trip. Absolutely beautiful and what great views for a walk.
Thanks Mary. I would wait till the Blue path re-opens before I visited if I were you. I hope the landslides have not altered the landscape too drastically.
I’ve yet to make it to Cinque Terre. Don’t know why I’ve missed it so far, it looks absolutely beautiful – and a perfect valentine’s destination. Gorgeous, tempting photos.
Thanks Sophie. Check to see the path is re-opened before you visit.
Stunning photos Jan of this beautiful part of Italy. Even the time we had to finish the walk in the heavy rain of early September, it was still beautiful. Ah… memories!
Thanks Jenny – it is such a shame they had the huge landslide.
Indeed, Italy and romance seem to go hand in hand!
The Cinque Terre did not dissapoint, and neither did the other places we stayed in 2010. They were all in the Country and we have not been to a big Italian city (except for Milan) for a long time.
The Cinque Terre is certainly beautiful and romantic! It is very high on my list of places to visit. Your pictures of Vernazza make me wish I was there right now!
I hope they manage to recover from the landslide and rebuild the path, because it is a spectacular walk.
Romance is just oozing out of every photo. I would love to see those five villages & well as the other places you mentioned. Beautiful!
Thanks Cathy, a beautiful place for sure.
We went last September. Sections of path were closed following the severe flooding experienced in 2011. The paths we were on were a lot busier than your photos show. Maybe this was because the closed sections meant everybody was restricted to the sections still open.
Totally agree on the Lover’s Walk, but would add it is the only section suitable for person’s with restricted mobility.
We were there early April 2010 and the paths were practically deserted. I do not think I would have enjoyed it as much with lots of people. The travel gods must have been smiling on us. I had seen photos of the paths with huge amounts of people on them before we went. I was not knocking the actual path between Manarola and Riomaggiora, just commenting that I favoured the olive groves over the locks for romance. It is wonderful that those with restricted mobility can access at least a small portion of the Cinque Terre. Also some of the train stations could provide limited access as well (and the boats?)
How gorgeous! I wish I could hop the next plane there. Sad about the mud slides; I wonder if they will rebuild the trail.
It has been a long time now Nancie. I did hear on the news recently that they are planning to. Surely it is a necessity if they want tourists?
Great photos! We are planning a visit here later this year so this has really got me excited! Thanks for a great post!
I agree: that lover’s walk is tacky. But the other locations definitely fit the bill. Like you, most of my romantic destinations involve the sea or water. Hope you had a fabulous Valentine’s Day.
I am feeling a little sorry that I said I thought it was tacky (I still do), but I realize that to some people Lovers Walk would be romantic. I do much prefer the flower filled olive groves and intimate sections of the walk.
Jan, Cinque Terre is one of my favorite places!!! What’s not to love– the breathtaking trails, the food, the people. etc. Thanks for bringing back memories. Love your photos!
Thanks Marisol, We were so lucky we had a lovely day weather wise when we did the walk. Glad you enjoyed reminiscing.
I think you and I and I were think about the same place on Valentine’s Day!
I was so surprised that all my romantically inclined shots were of Italy!
Lucky you to have so many romantic trips to choose from! I can see why Cinque Terre is so famous. I hope to visit some day. In the meantime, thanks for whetting my appetite for travel with these scenic photos.
Thanks so much for your encouraging words.
Gosh every single one of those photos is so romantic – gorgeous xx And a perfect way to experience Valentines Day – wishing I was there!
Thanks Lisa. Whenever I do a post I want to be wherever the post is about. I am in a perpetual state of wanting!
Fabulous photos – and I would so love to do this hike. And I’d look forward to a great glass of Italian wine at the end of it all.
The blue path is the easiest Leigh, there are more difficult ones that you might prefer, although the sights on this path are superb.