Travel is one of the best ways to practice a language! While you may surround yourself with books and media, traveling to your language destination fully immerses you in both language and culture. When studying Italian, there’s no better place to go than to Italy! Italy is rich in history and culture, and there are some differences in the different regions. In today’s blog, we’re looking at some of the best things to do in the Cinque Terre.
The Cinque Terre translates into “five lands,” and is a chain of idyllic villages located along the coast of Liguria in the north of Italy. With no more than 3.5 miles between each town, the villages are connected by footpaths, making it incredibly easy to walk from place to place. Because of this, the Cinque Terre is well known for walking holidays, but there are still plenty of other things for you to do, too.
Hiking
Even if you are not planning to walk from one end of the Cinque Terre to the other, it’s still highly recommended that you hike at least a small section of the trails that connect the area. Some of the trails are short, such as the walk from Manarola to Corniglia, coming in at just over a mile long and can be completed in about 40 minutes. For those that crave adventure, you can try hiking all the towns in one day, stopping for lunch along the way, and ending the day with a seaside dinner.
Boating
The Cinque Terre’s location along the sea means that it’s surrounded by plenty of water. Hopping onto a boat allows you to see the coastline and towns from a different perspective. You can either rent a zodiac (gommone) that you pilot yourself or go group sailing. A boat ride will take you to some glorious views and find hidden gems such as coves and waterfalls. You might even have the option to stop for a swim or go snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of the Ligurian Sea.
Street Food
One of the best parts about traveling is the food! Street food is an integral part of every culture, so it’s worth your time to sample food from these casual affairs. You can find it sold at the front of restaurants or sold from pushcarts. Some of the specialties of the region include fritti mistii, a paper cone full of mixed fried seafood; farinata, a regional chickpea pancake; and focaccia, a bread flavored with olives, tomatoes, olive oil, and sea salt.