Welcome to our first issue of the Language Exepress!

A time-capsule of Italian summers gone; Cinque Terre is the ideal summer destination. Consisting of five 13thcentury fishing villages, all sporting pastel-coloured houses, pebbled and white-sand beaches as well as the freshest Italian seafood. Cinque Terre truly is an unsullied find. 

 

As the harsh reality of Autumn is fully under way, like many others I’ve found myself clinging onto the waning memories of the unusual summer of 2020. Fortunate enough to have been able to return to Italy for two months this summer, I toured across Northern Italy and spent a wistful weekend in the now less-hidden gem of Cinque Terre. 

 

The five fishing villages that make up Cinque Terre are dotted along the coast of the Italian Riviera. From north to south; Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore; and each within their own right an Italian treasure. The Ligurian coast provides each village with their own character and quirks. Take your pick: explore the winding, cobbled streets of Riomaggiore that scream Mamma Mia, or maybe the black-sand beaches in Vernazza, buzzing with teenagers sunbathing and dancing on the rocks, or choose the incomparable panoramic views you could only find in Manarola. The UNESCO World Heritage Site looks onto the tiffany-blue sea, filled with wildlife and sporadic boats of locals and tourists, exploring further spots for sunset Aperitivo. This is then juxtaposed by the land, where traditional vineyards are embellished by a number of different walking trails connecting the five villages together. 

 

Undertaking the task of describing these five idyllic towns is hardly a challenge, yet condensing them to anything shorter than a short novel is a slightly trickier task. Each village has its own personality. All decorated by their soft-hued houses painted in pastel colours, the villages radiate nothing subpar of total Mediterranean ambience as the summer sun sets every evening. In addition to the hiking trails, the villages are connected by a 19th century railway, which only enhances the Italian summer refuge that clings to the coastline. 

 

Advancing southwards down the coast, Monterosso was the first stop on my list. The village is divided into the Old and New Town, connected by a tunnel, the only of the five villages where you really need to watch out for cars. Enough boutique shops to entice you off the streets and then off again to a villa to live out your Italian version of Mamma Mia. Then onto Vernazza, which simply exudes summer vibes, as locals dine on the freshest seafood before returning to their sunbathing spot on the rocks to drink and dance with friends and then do it all again the very next day. A definite must for younger people as well as for families. Next, we have Corniglia, which after the 377 steps up from the train station, is another Greek styled village. The region is renowned for its Focaccia, and so here is where I ventured into Bar Focacceria a Cáneva as a novice and left around 3 kilos heavier in delicious cheesy bread. 

 

Continuing on a food tour of the area, Manarola really offers the goods. The perfect photo opportunity to document the ideal Italian Instagram image. Starting with an Aperol Spritz, then fresh calamari, followed by flavoursome Spaghetti Vongole, all to be finished off nicely with the backdrop of a burning sky, with a sunset of pinks, oranges and reds, and a shot of Limoncello, if you feel like it. Finally, the tour ends in Riomaggiore with another nod to Mamma Mia. Winding streets and steps up from the water’s edge and an iconic slipway into the water. Calmly congested with small fishing boats, the crystal-clear blue water entices locals and tourists for the duration of the summer months. 

 

My evenings were spent in La Spezia, the neighbouring town, where lanterns of light reflect off the Mediterranean whilst everyone tucks into the freshest seafood catch. To sell this spot even further, I should add that it was in La Spezia where myself and some friends took a boat for a ‘Sunset Tour’ of the area. Indisputably one of the best days of my year, drinking sunset Aperitivo whilst admiring the five villages would be my most noteworthy recommendation for any visitor. Upon returning to the mainland, the tranquillity of the five nearby villages is juxtaposed by the dynamism of La Spezia. Here the restaurant scene animates the streets as friends share their days over a carafe of wine or two.

 

What once was another of Italy’s hidden charms, now due to media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest Cinque Terre is sadly no longer the hidden oasis of Liguria. I do find myself resisting the temptation to label myself as a trendsetter, after numerous friends swiftly asking for recommendations for the area and countless messages reminding me how lucky I was to be able to spend my summer abroad, let alone in Cinque Terre. Whilst 2020 may have thrown some fairly significant curveballs at us all, pressing pause on travel and weekend getaways, many find themselves planning endless trips for that day when normality returns. Cinque Terre should undoubtably be at the top of every traveller's list. Should you be so lucky to have a weekend, a week or even a month exploring the region, the havens to discover are enchantingly endless. 

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