Porto Venere

Porto Venere could easily have been the 6th addition to the five villages of Cinque Terre but if that were to happen, the fabled name would require a major modification. It possesses all the characteristics to become a titular member, if nothing else. The many pastel houses, a red here and a yellow there, stand together like a fortress right in front of the magnificent harbour, as if they were guarding the town from an unknown force. Porto Venere is also deeply entrenched in history right from the Byzantine Empire to the times of Napoleon Bonaparte. The many churches and castles stand testimony to this fact. It is not just all about unique landscapes. There is, after all, a reason why this little commune is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Trivia: The 40 km Red Trail to Levanto, also known as the Sentiero Rosso or the High Trail, starts right here and experienced hikers therefore have a soft corner for Porto Venere.

Getting there:
You could either take a boat from the town of La Spezia to Porto Venere or perhaps get into a bus, which is a cheaper option. Additionally there are 30-minute trains connecting the two places. If you trust your feet and are sturdy enough for the same, you could even walk to the town because there is an elaborate hiking trail connecting the Cinque Terre villages, Porto Venere and Levanto.