Cinque Terre, a constellation of five tiny fishing villages located on the spectacular Italian Riviera, is considered one of the most beautiful destinations in Europe.
Hotel Porta Roca - Monterosso
Nestled into the side of a cliff and framed by lush vineyards, Hotel Porto Roco has one of the best vantage points in the village offering stunning views across the bay of Monterosso. The 40-room property is blessed with large balconies overlooking the sea and a stunning infinity pool. The proximity to the beach is a highlight, as is the colourful assembly of umbrellas and deckchairs exclusively reserved for guests of the hotel. Be sure to seek out the private entrance hidden in the lemon-scented garden that leads to the medieval village of Vernazza.
Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre, Via Corone,
1, 19016 Monterosso al Mare SP, Italy
Phone: +39 0187 817502
The La Torretta - Manarola
With views of the vineyards and the Ligurian sea, the pastel-hued fishing village of Manarola is one of Italy's most photographed hamlets. Whilst local homes cling precariously to cliff tops, the La Torretta (originally a 17th-century tower) is located in the centre of town. Reworked into a 12-bedroom hotel, the ancient building affords spectacular views from every room. The bespoke accommodation is one of the most romantic retreats on our list, the hotel’s terraces lending themselves perfectly to love-struck honeymooners and lovers keen to take in the famed Cinque Terre sunsets.
Vico Volto, 20,
19010 Manarola (SP) - Italy
Phone: +39 0187 920327
Cinqueterre Residence - Riomaggiore
The southernmost village of Riomaggiore is as scenic as its counterparts but with a slightly hipper beat, thanks to the outdoor DJ nights and concerts gracing the weekends throughout summer. High-end accommodation options are few, however, most of the eleven hotels in the village embrace views of the plunging cliffs, azure waters and the kaleidoscope of colourful houses. Our pick is the Cinqueterre Residence, a charming 10-room hotel within walking distance of a secluded beach and access to hiking trails in the area, including the seaside Via dell'Amore route, which leads to the next town of Manarola. There is also private parking, an anomaly in the region.
Via Lorenzo de Batte 67f,
Riomaggiore, Italian Riviera 19017, Italy
Phone: +39 0187 760538
La Mala - Vernazza
Founded around 1000 A.D, the tiny portside village of Vernazza is dominated by a medieval castle, steeply-terraced olive groves and the Church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia, a 15th- century marvel spectacularly built on rocks overlooking the ocean. Positioned halfway between the sea and the sky is La Mala, an antique Ligurian house converted into an elegant hotel. The contemporary white-washed rooms have been designed to offset the dazzling seascape and the light-filled hotel is also handily stationed near Cheo's Winery where Cinque Terre wine tastings take place every second, and last Friday, of the month at 6:30 p.m.
Via San Giovanni Battista 29,
19018 Vernazza, Italy
Phone: +39 334 28 75 718
Corto del Gallo - Corniglia
Surrounded on three sides by vineyards and terraces, Corniglia is the smallest of the Cinque Terre villages and the only village not directly adjacent to the sea. Due to its high proximity and steep ascent, there are fewer accommodation options available but the quintessentially Italian, Corto del Gallo is a delightful little B&B with charmingly named rooms such as The Lover, The Dreamer and The Romantic, all with views extending out to the sparkling Ligurian sea.
Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre,
Via Stazione, 27, 19018 Corniglia, Vernazza SP, Italy
Phone: +39 0187 812336
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