Corniglia to Manarola

Another favorite hike in Cinque Terre is Corniglia to Manarola, taking the train two stops (7 minutes) south from Monterosso, walking along the tracks to the steps up to town, and climbing the 382 steps up to the street.

Along the tracks and up the steps

At the top, we proceed up a side street off of which the path heads up from the town.

Starting up the trail

Corniglia rapidly grows smaller in the distance as we climb for a while.

Corniglia and Monterosso in the distance

Heading up

Corniglia, Monterosso in the far distance

Soon the path levels off and we continue along the ridge, with a few ups and downs to keep our attention.

Continuing along the ridge

Manarola starting to appear

A few more elevation changes

Further along the ridge

We round a corner, emerge from the forest, and follow the path through hillsides covered with vines for the fabulous local wines of the region.  Manarola is now in view and we continue through the vineyards toward our destination.

Path through the vineyards

Hillsides covered with vines

It's early in the season and the grapes are just emerging on the vines.  We'll be back in a few months when they are ready for picking, but now they're small and green.

Young grapes

Although our destination is getting closer, we still have to pass through Volastra on the hill above Manarola and we stop to peek into the chapel at the top of town:  Nostra Signora Della Salute.

Manarola down below

Nostra Signora Della Salute

We continue through Volastra and take the 1,200 or so steps down the hill to Manarola, enter the village, and catch a train to Riomaggiore, the next community south and the lowest of the five Cinque Terre villages.

Steps down to Manarola

Passing through Manarola

Now, it's time for lunch!

Bonassola to Framura

We leave the harbor at Bonassola and continue through the old train tunnels along the sea leading to Framura, the next town north.  Framura consists of five tiny villages (Anzo, Ravecca, Setta, Costa, and Castagnola) located on a steep hill and connected to one another with stairs.  

Entering the tunnels

The old train tunnels have been repurposed to make a hike and bike trail from Levanto to Bonassola to Framura.  We're taking the section from Bonassola to Framura on this hike and find the tunnels well-lit and with breaks between tunnels that offer spectacular views of the sea.

View north from a break between tunnels

Continuing through the tunnels

More breaks between tunnels

Garden between tunnels

Entrance to a small beach

End of tunnel coming up

We emerge at harbor in Framura, next to the train station (with tracks now passing through a new tunnel next to the old one).

Emerging at the harbor

We walk through the train station, descend to the beach, and find lunch at a small stand that sells bruschetta.  We share a tomato bruschetta and a tomato and anchovy bruschetta.

Beach past the train tracks

Lunch

After lunch, we return to the train station and view the schedule for the bus which would take us 300 meters or so up the hill, allowing us to then descend through the five villages that make up this beautiful area of sea and mountain landscapes (saving us the 300 meter walk up the steps).  But, we're out of time today and will have to return another day for this new adventure.  We hop on the train and return to Monterosso, where the day has also improved and the beach umbrellas are now open.

Waiting for the train at Framura

Stairs up to the villages

Returning to Monterosso

We were able to explore a new place today and make a note to ourselves to return for a different adventure in Framura on another trip.