The Cinque Terre is a stretch of land, less than 20 km in lenght, between sea and mountains in the Italian northwestern region Liguria. Five small fishing villages, set like jewels into the Ligurian Coast (Costa Ligure of Levante) give the name to this area (the translation of "cinque terre" is "five lands").

 Tiny villages suspended between sea and earth in a area that offers to visitors sights  absolutely incomparable. A landscape unique, with its steep valleys, green hills,  insenatures, vertical cliffs and cosy beaches among the rocks. Here, even the work of the man throughout the centuries has increased the beauty of nature: the terraces cultivated with vineyards carried out on the typical steep slopes are a fine example.

The five villages:

-Vernazza. The most famous village of the Cinque Terre,  was a ancient Roman installation and had a strong political and economical importance during the age of the Maritime Republics in Genoa. Witnesses of such importance are the style of its buildings, the loggias, the arcades, the Castle of the Doria, the watch-towers and the numerous fortifications erected to protect the city from the enemies.
The other villages are:
-Monterosso
the most appreciated of The Cinque  Terre for the beaches, its  artisan shops, hotels and restaurants; 
-Manarola  surrounded by its famous vineyards and  connected through "The Love Path" - two kilometres of paved path to
-Riomaggiore which is the most eastern  village of  The Cinque Terre.
Finally -Corniglia with its Belvedere, an incomparable view  by a terrace on the sea

Useful links:

www.aptcinqueterre.sp.it
www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it
www.parconazionale5terre.it
www.cinqueterreonline.com