Anna Tyler, travel writer at Lonely Planet, recommends five beautiful villages for those “looking for an unspoiled idyll on the Italian Riviera”. She proposes alternative destinations to the famous Cinque Terre, which have seen a rapid, unsustainable influx of visitors from around the world. The recommended villages to visit near Cinque Terre are: Portovenere, Tellaro, Montemarcello, Framura and Sestri Levante.
With its pastel-colored waterfront houses and picturesque seaside location, Porto Venere is the closest thing to a sixth Cinque Terre village. No wonder that UNESCO included in its World Heritage List, together with the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto across the sea channel.
Tellaro is very quaint. It’s worth exploring its maze of little streets and admire the pink Chiesa di San Giorgio while learning about its legendary giant octopus.
From the hilltop streets of Montemarcello you can enjoy amazing views spanning from the Bay of the Poets to the Magra River Valley and the marble mountains of Carrara.
Framura is a collection of tiny hamlets with a fairytale quality. Getting there by foot, bicycle or e-bike is particularly interesting thanks to an old railway track that was converted into a 5km-long trail for pedestrians and cyclists.
Sestri Levante is a lovely village set between the sandy beach of Baia delle Favole and the rocky coves of Baia del Silenzio.
Read the complete article and tips by Lonely Planet –Alternative Cinque Terre: five beautiful and unspoiled Italian Riviera villages.
