In fact, preservation is so key here that transportation into Cinque Terre can be difficult. There are very few roads that lead into the towns, so train travel or ferry travel is best.
The lay of the land.
A closer look.
On the trip we took a bus to La Spezia and then hopped on a train using our Cinque Terre day passes to arrive in Riomaggiore. The entire trip took under two hours.
At the train station!
After arriving at the train station there, we went through an almost theme park-like tunnel to the actual town. Everything here was built on cliffs and stacked on narrow stairs and landings in an effort to protect the town from pirates and other forms of siege. These days, it can make living and even grocery shopping difficult for the aging population.
They even had music playing in here!
The village itself was built in the thirteenth century and until a major period of restoration the buildings were all gray. Personally, I'm a fan of the more colorful track that they chose to embark on.
After walking around and seeing the one square of flat land in town, we walked cliffside to the stone beach. Along the way we saw yet another mosaic depicting the agricultural history of the town. I can't imagine that lounging here on a towel here would be that comfortable, but the locals seemed to enjoy it.
One of the mosaics in question. Emphasizing the laborer/agricultural customs and history of Riomaggiore.
Greetings from Riomaggiore's beach!
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