One Week Wandering Italy — Cinque Terre, Florence, Bologna & San Marino

Italy has a way of stretching time — mornings linger over coffee, afternoons disappear into art and alleyways, and evenings always seem to extend just long enough for one more gelato. This week-long journey took us from the pastel cliffs of Cinque Terre to the Renaissance heart of Florence, with detours into Bologna and the tiny republic of San Marino. It was part hiking trip, part food tour, and part family adventure — stitched together by trains we barely caught and meals we’ll never forget.

Day 1: Our First Taste of Cinque Terre

We began our week in Italy slowly, from our home base in Riomaggiore. Breakfast was simple and perfect—pastries from Riso and strong morning coffee from Il Maggiore, enjoyed while the village was just waking up, narrow lanes still quiet and the sea glinting below.

Our first adventure started on foot, walking from Riomaggiore to Manarola via the Via dell’Amore. The famous coastal path lived up to its name—sheer cliffs, turquoise water below, pastel villages hugging the rocks, and a constant sea breeze. It was an ideal first walk: scenic, gentle, and unmistakably Cinque Terre.

Manarola’s marina was our first place to truly slow down—fishing boats rocking gently in the harbor, bright houses stacked above the water, and the Ligurian coastline stretching as far as the eye could see. After lingering by the water, we climbed up to the Punta Bonfiglio viewpoint, where Manarola opens up completely: layers of colorful homes cascading toward the sea, waves crashing far below, and the unmistakable Cinque Terre postcard view laid out in front of us.

From Manarola onward, we switched to the Cinque Terre Express, making use of the Cinque Terre Card Treno—the combined pass that covers both hiking trails and unlimited train travel between the villages. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip, giving us flexibility to mix walking with short train hops as energy ebbed and flowed.

Next stop was Vernazza, where we wandered through the marina and slowly climbed toward Castello Doria. From above, the village opened up—boats tucked into the tiny harbor, colorful houses stacked tightly along the curve of the water, and the rugged Ligurian coastline stretching out in both directions. The stone paths and weathered castle walls were a quiet reminder of Vernazza’s long history, shaped as much by the sea as by the threats that once came from it.

By lunchtime (well, it was quite late for lunch), we stopped at Il Pirata delle 5 Terre, an unassuming little spot that turned out to be one of the best meals of the entire trip. The food was outstanding: deeply flavorful seafood linguini, rich seafood risotto, and a comforting spaghetti bolognese that tasted anything but ordinary. Every bite was unbelievably delicious. One of those meals you keep thinking about long after it’s over.

We returned to Riomaggiore for dinner at Osteria Torpedine, enjoying another excellent seafood meal—spaghetti with pink prawns and squid, seafood linguini, creamy risotto, and tender gnocchi with mixed seafood and herbs. As the village quieted and lanterns lit the narrow lanes, we walked back tired, full, and completely convinced that starting our trip in Cinque Terre had been the right choice.