Cinque Terre.
The uniqueness of the Cinque Terre is evident from the landscape itself: the hillside terracings with the small drystone walls sloping down to the cliff edge are witnesses to the centuries-old struggle of man through the seasons and the years to create cultivable land wherever possible. And the earth has repaid such constancy and ingenuity by nurturing the vines whose grapes produce superior-quality wines that are appreciated all over the world, such as Cinque Terre white table wine or "Sciacchetrà", the extraordinary local raisin wine. The vineyards have maximum exposure to the sun (they face south) and minimum exposure to the winds; during the production of Sciacchetrà, the grapes are left out in the dryers and given extra time to ripen in the sun and salty air.
The seaside towns of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso are set on the coastal rocks or at the mouth of small rivers. They have kept the charm of bygone days and arouse emotions that defy description.
All of the localities in the Cinque Terre can now be reached by car; however, the train remains the best way to spend a day travelling along the "via dell'amore" or along one of the many paths through the Mediterranean maquis and along the rocky coastline. The so-called "path of sanctuaries" along the hillside ridge is a beautiful panoramic spot that has many features of interest.