Spring is one of the best times to visit Italy and it is necessary to make your plans now! You may not know where the Ligurian Coast is with its rugged Riviera Levante, but you would certainly recognize the individual towns in this area – Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Camogli. Up the coast – Genoa. Down the coast…the Cinque Terre consisting of five villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Menarola, Riomaggiore…and Portovenere is another picturesque town overlooking La Spezia. Parts of the Ligurian Coast is also referred to as the “Italian Riviera” and includes San Remo. Now you know what I’m talking about!

ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and I are always looking for a new experience and place to go. That means searching out famous and not-so-well-known spots that are easy to travel to on our own. This is our preference but you, as well as some of our friends, may think otherwise. They like the interaction of meeting new people and traveling with a group. There are pros and cons both ways. The deciding factor for us is usually the cost…group tours are always more expensive. Wouldn’t you think that would be the opposite? The more people, the less expensive? Not so.

That being said…there has been a lot “buzz” and various articles about the Ligurian Coast and its famous “Cinque Terre.” There is also a long-distance footpath, the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri, running the entire distance of the Ligurian Coast but that would probably be too difficult for us.

part of Cinque Terre map, Italy
If you prefer group travel, there are many excellent companies that organize trips to this region, Mountain Travel Sobek, Wilderness Travel, Backroads, Explore Worldwide, Sherpa Walking Holidays…to name just a few…all with different costs…the first three run more luxurious and expensive trips. Check them out if this is your preference.

If we went by ourselves, it would take some planning to decide:

- How to get there and travel around on our own (neither one of us speaks Italian);

- What towns to visit;

- Where to stay; and

- When should we go

To add spice to the mixture, Lake Garda would also be fun to visit for more of a mountain experience. My intensive planning started. ( ex-Marine contributes no thought to the process…ever….he usually contributes suggestions after the trip on what should have done differently…)