The Cinque Terre (meaning ‘Five Lands’) are a coastal area within Liguria, in the northwest of Italy and comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Monterosso and Vernazza were the first settled villages and the other villages grew later, under the rule of the Republic of Genoa. In the 16th century, new defensive towers were built to protect the population from attacks by the Ottoman Empire. The five villages experienced an economic decline from the 17th to 19th centuries.
In early 20th century an arsenal was built in La Spezia and Cinque Terre gained a railway link to Genoa. The railway led to migration from the area and a decline in traditional industries until the growth of tourism from the 1970s onward.
By early 21st century Cinque Terre has become a popular tourist destination in Italy. Furthermore, Cruise ships docking at La Spezia made the villages an ideal destination for off shore excursions via boat or train. Today Cinque Terre is considered one of the primary tourist destination. The region continues to deal with the balancing act between over tourism and economic development.
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