A TRAIN RUNS THROUGH IT
A train journey through Liguria’s wine country
by Karen Guthry
 Besides its rugged beauty, the Cinque Terre is one of the Italian Riviera’s most interesting and fascinating destinations thanks also to its enological tradition. Cinque Terre’s vineyards extend over 400 hectares of cliffs cultivated into terraces that tower 400 meters above the sea.
The typical vine of the region is called Sciacchetrà. This famous wine, which has been grown for over 2’000 years, bears traces of sea air and evokes the unique aroma of the pine forests on the steep coastline. Agricultural techniques that have remained unchanged throughout the centuries are employed to produce the unique amber wine.
It is possible to reach Cinque Terre from all over Europe. The main stations nearby are Genova, about 130 Km north and La Spezia, just one train stop away. If you are traveling from Nice or Milan via Genova, the local train to La Spezia will take you right through the network of tunnels along the coast, all the way to Cinque Terre.
If you are traveling from the south via Rome or Pisa, hop on the local train in La Spezia, to Sestri Levante.
Form Genova, the train journey is particularly exhilarating. As you travel along the Riviera Ligure, the train passes through Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Chiavari, Sestri Levante, and Levanto before reaching Monterosso — the first village of the Cinque Terre. The trip takes just over an hour; enough time to sit back and enjoy the spectacular view of the coast.
The five villages in Cinque Terre are only a minute apart. The train runs at regular intervals, so you can stop off in the first village, drop in for an espresso then stroll to the next village. You can climb back on board and stop for an aperitivo in another village.
Riomaggiore is the main vine-growing center of Cinque Terre, Vernazza is the only village to have a small port. In Roman days, the white vine called Vernaccia was shipped from here, giving its name to the small township.
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