Published on Monday, February 4, 2013 by Kathy McCabe   The Cinque Terre (meaning "five lands" or "five towns") on the Ligurian coast of northern Italy are simply one of Italy's great treasures. They are the perfect location for hiking, boating and scuba diving. The photo above features the town of Vernazza. The towns were damaged in severe flooding and mud slides over a year ago but have bounced back and are awaitin...

Published on Thursday, October 25, 2012 by Kathy McCabe On October 25, 2011, the Cinque Terre - the five famous fishing villages linked together on northern Italy's coast of Liguria - were bruised and batter by storms and severe flooding. A number of residents lost their lives. Two of the World Heritage Site's villages in particular were severely damaged - Vernazza and Monterosso. Today on the first anniversary of the dis...

Published on Thursday, August 16, 2012 by Kathy McCabe We're deep in the heart of August and that means most Italians are at the beach! Each year, the non-profit  Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) awards select beaches and marinas  a "Blue Flag" or "Bandiera Blu."  A "Blue Flag" beach is one with pristine sand, clear water and organized services. Beaches are given this award by complying with many crite...

Published on Friday, February 17, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Make your next Italy vacation an underwater adventure by scuba diving in Italy. One of the best places to scuba dive in Italy is near Cinque Terre, a stunning collection of cliffside villages on the northwestern coast. Many visitors choose to hike or take the train through Cinque Terre and admire the water from above...but there is much to see below and this coastlin...

Published on Friday, January 27, 2012 by JacobMartin Do you love hiking? Then get set for a new adventure at Cinque Terre in Italy! Cinque Terre is a group of five colorful villages with unmatched scenic beauty. The five Cinque Terre villages are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Cinque Terre faces the picturesque Ligurian coast and serves as a great escape for hike lovers! Ita...