A Perfect Weekend Getaway: Cinque Terre from Florence
On the east coast of Italy lays Cinque Terre, a collection of five small villages that offer a quiet escape from the bustling city of Florence. This past weekend, May 17th-19th, I got to spend the weekend in Cinque Terre with seven other girls – two of whom I had known and came to Florence with, and five others who we were randomly paired to live with and clicked with immediately. I’m here to tell you about our unforgettable adventure and how you can have the same experience!
We trained from Florence to Monterossa, with a connecting train in La Spienza. We decided to stay in Monterossa because it was the largest of the five vilages and offered so much to do. We felt so safe in our Airbnb. We booked our tickets through the Trainline app. At just 30 euros one way, the three-hour train ride was both comfortable and scenic.
We got there late Friday night and decided to rest for our big day the next day. The vibrant colors of the village were beautiful, and we came to learn these towns were actually the inspiration for the Disney Movie Luca, which we decided to watch Friday night to compare! On Saturday we decided to do a relaxing day on the beach, a popular spot for both locals and tourists. We opted to rent beach chairs for the day, a decision that was very much worth it as the public beach was incredibly crowded. The cool water was freezing and refreshing, nothing like the Florida beaches I was used to!
Come Saturday night, we trained to a nearby town to set off on our sunset boat tour, which we booked through Airbnb for 107 euros per person. This tour was the highlight of our trip. Our tour guide gave us historical insighs about each of the five villages as we passed them in our boat: Monterossa, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The boat tour offered a different perspective on Cinque Terre, allowing us to observe them from the water. We even had the opportunity to stop for a swim! All in all, our weekend trip to Cinque Terre was unforgettable! From our relaxing day on the beach to our sunset boat tour Saturday night, every moment will be cherished! If you are planning on coming to Italy and need a place to visit, I highly recommend this area!
