Manarola, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy

On this trip to the Cinque Terre, we structured the visits to three of the five towns so that we would end up at Manarola for the iconic sunset/dusk photo time period.  There were perhaps twenty or so other photographers with the same idea. This sequence of images was made over a three-hour period of time. Above image, late afternoon.

Just before sunset.

Sunset.

Lights turned on in town.

Darkness deepens.

My final effort. I stopped after this one as my shutter speed was now at five seconds and it was too difficult to get a sharp image hand-holding my point-and-shoot camera against the fence rail.

Waiting for the train back to La Spezia to begin the hour drive home.

The train arrives.  I dressed up this image with some odd coloring, ground level angle, and texture - another effort at "art." We rode on four trains today within the Cinque Terre.  Each one was on time, efficient, well-priced, and clean.  A great way to travel and visit these jewels of the Italian Riviera.

Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy

Traveling via train north from La Spezia, the fourth of the Cinque Terre towns is Vernazza. It has a protected harbor and a pleasant promenade along the waterfront. Lower left you may note a train just arriving at the station.

Fishing boats at anchor after their day's work.

Along the harbor front.

An outdoor cafe - location, location, location.

Laundry hanging outside to dry is common everywhere in this part of Italy - partly because of very expensive electricity costs, partly because fresh-air dried clothing smells and feels wonderful, and partly because that's the way it's been done for centuries.

It is possible to visit the Cinque Terre towns by boat as the arrival of this passenger ferry demonstrates.

A common activity is just sitting and watching the world go by..........

......or lying down on the quay wall........

....or, for the young and beautiful, lying on a warm sunny rock beside the harbor.  Ah, youth.........

Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy

Riomaggiore is the southernmost of the Cinque Terre towns. It is wedged into a narrow cleft in the mountains and its buildings climb the steep slopes in a jumble of color and angles. (Note: I made the above image last year). The entire Cinque Terre is part of a national park that ensures sound management and preservation for the future.

It is only mid-April but, the warm sun on the dark rocks makes for a nice place to hang out for a while.

This sidewalk artist creates beautiful renderings of the five towns.

Imagine growing up here with this as your childhood playground. (By the way, the ripple on the horizon is not a tsunami, it is my jerky motion when moving the camera for this panorama).

It is not unusual to see folks using ski poles/walking sticks on these steep streets and paths.

But sitting on the waterfront for a long lunch is still one of the most preferred activities.

Manarola, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy

The five towns of the Cinque Terre are linked by an hourly train and the ride to the next one, Manarola, lasted only about two minutes.  I would have preferred to hike between the two but the trail has been closed due to flooding and washouts that make it too dangerous to be open to the public. This is the second town heading north of the five coastal towns in the Cinque Terre National Park. My post about the first town, Riomaggiore, can be seen at this link. The park includes the coastline, villages, and hillsides along this stretch of the northwestern Italian Riviera coastline in the Province of Liguria. For many centuries, the local people have lived by fishing the Ligurian Sea, and farming the steep terraces carved into the hillsides. Connected by a narrow winding road and narrow footpaths, the "Five Lands" (Cinque Terre) are popular with tourists and bring a boost to the local economies through tourism. 

Walking up and out of town rewarded me with this spectacular view.

Like Riomaggiore, the town of Manarola also has a small breakwater-protected harbor from which the fishermen can access the Ligurian Sea.

I don't think there was a single tourist without a camera at this beautiful spot. Some of the folks with me came back another day to make images during the before and after sunset hour when the lights were just coming on in town but the buildings and sea were still illuminated with the fading daylight. After seeing their results, I wish I had gone, too, even though their 30-second long exposures are a bit outside the realm of a point-and-shooter like me.

The houses are built and stacked on this impossibly steep hillside.  Note the terraced hillside planted with grapevines. Imagine transporting the building materials and construction equipment here - all done by hand. Not to mention the climb up and down the hill to work, or the store, or any of the dozens of daily activities of life.  No wonder all the locals seemed rather fit.

But not all are working.  These two young lovers lounge at the harbor soaking in the bright afternoon springtime sun....ah, young love, when passion is new and all things are possible....

....but the love of a long life shared is even better. Like these two residents who help each other up the steep main road through the village - perhaps mother and daughter or otherwise life-long friends.

As shadows grow longer, it's time to leave. Note the train station perched on the edge of the land. The tracks disappear quickly into tunnels carved into the mountains to emerge at the next of these wonderlands. It has been said that Italy is Disneyland for adults - I get it.

Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy

Much to the consternation of my car passengers, when I saw this sight I braked hard and pulled over to the steep edge of the narrow road. But I couldn't help myself, it may be the most beautiful stretch of coastline I have ever seen.  The town is Riomaggiore, the southernmost of the five coastal towns in the Cinque Terre National Park.  The park includes the coastline, villages, and hillsides along this stretch of the northwestern Italian Riviera coastline in the Province of Liguria. For many centuries, the local people have lived by fishing the Ligurian Sea, and farming the steep terraces carved into the hillsides. Connected by a narrow winding road and narrow footpaths, the "Five Lands" (Cinque Terre) are popular with tourists and bring a boost to the local economies through tourism. 

Same view, zoomed-in a bit closer.

Once down in the town I scampered across the rocks - to the extent a man my age can scamper - and found this pretty view of the narrow harbor entrance  from the rocks along the breakwater.

The fishermen pull their boats down this ramp and into the sea to pursue their livelihood. And back up the steep ramp and hill at the end of the day.

The compact town has narrow alleys and a warren of steep steps and paths that lead to homes, hotels, terraces with vineyards, even a small cemetery.

All that walking on steep roads and paths makes for big hunger and this outdoor cafe just off the harbor along the main street was a great place for lunch.

Through the drinking glass.......

After lunch I wish I could have joined these folks on the breakwater rocks - the crashing waves the only sounds to lull them to sleep. Another spectacular place in a country of spectacular places - and I've seen only a tiny portion of it.