Honeymoon Destination of the Month – Cinque Terre

Here at Peter Rowland we are rather obsessed with food and highly partial to travel. Where better to start our honeymoon destination spotlights than the charming Cinque Terre in Italy.

Cinque Terre is made up of five vibrant seaside villages stacked up into the cliffs in the World Heritage listed Cinque Terre National Park, each with a distinctly different personality but each as stunning as the next. Each of the five towns are linked by a hiking track, called the Sentiero Azzurro or the “Azzure Trail”, that showcases unparalleled views of the upper west coast of Italy. If hiking is not how you had intended to spend your relaxing honeymoon however, there is a train that links the towns and will get you anywhere you need to be without raising your heart rate.

WHAT TO DO

Why not pack a picnic of the region’s most delicious specialities such as foccacia, pesto and anchovies along with gorgeous fresh cheeses and cured meets from the family run deli in Riomaggiore before wandering to Manarola along a relaxing path called Via dell’Amore, or the “Love Walk”, for a leisurely bite to eat and a dip in the Liguarian Sea.

After a relaxing morning of delicious antipasto and sunbathing with your new spouse, catch the train to Corniglia and enjoy a sumptuous seafood lunch and some local wine overlooking the crystal clear blue waters before hiking down the cliffs to Vernazza for more sunbathing and frolicking in the sea.

When you feel you have had as much vitamin D as your body can take, train along to Monterosso for a romantic dinner at one of the gorgeous trattorias this town has to offer. Lastly, finish of with a gelato as you wander along the beach on a warm summer evening.

WHERE TO STAY

Although there is accommodation in each of the towns along the Cinque Terre, there are many more options available if you look to the surrounding areas. La Spezia is a popular choice however, as it is the closest to the Cinque Terre, it can be a little “touristy”. For somewhere a little more romantic try Sestri Levante. It is still very close but much less populated and you can access Monterosso by either train or boat

WHAT TO PACK

Keep it simple and light. There are plenty of opportunities to use your bathers and towel and a light summer dress or three for the girls, and a pair of shorts for the boys can never go astray however, other than a great book and your favourite sunnies, there is not much else you will require. If you are athletically inclined and want to take on the Sentiero Azzurro, then don’t forget your runners and a water bottle and of course the most important thing for any holiday, a camera.