Monterosso al Mare
So, here I am, to give you a more in depth "review" of Monterosso al Mare - our first village of Cinque Terre. Personally, this one was my favourite and you'll see why soon enough.
As I mentioned in my previous post, if you are looking for nice beaches, you HAVE to go to Monterosso al Mare. It's the only village that has a proper beach where you can tan and go for a swim and lay out in the sun. The beach is, well, obviously, amazing. The water is crystal blue and quite warm. Online the other beaches you will find throughout Cinque Terre, this one is a sandy beach!! Yes!! Sand! But... there's a catch. See all those nice "sunbrellas"? Well, those are to rent…. in private beaches… Most of the time you won't even be able to rent one, because they're rented all year round. But not to worry! You'll find some free spots where you can lay your towel on the sand and enjoy the amazing beach - like all the other peasants like myself (joke).
Once you arrive in Monterosso al Mare (if you go by train of course), you'll immediately notice it's the bigger of the Cinque Terre Villages - or at least that's what it looks like. You'll be presented with the beach right outside the train station, with a few nice cafes overlooking the sea. This area is strictly beach, food and accommodation. But, if you follow the path along the sea, and go through the tunnel, you'll find the other part of Monterosso al Mare. This area is full of little shops and cute restaurants to have lunch in. If you want to buy a little souvenir, this is where you'll be able to do it.
There is also a little bay with boats, where you can actually find Cinque Terre boat tours. You can either get a private boat, which of course will be more on the expensive side, or you can buy tickets for the water bus tour. This is like a big boat, where more people will embark on too, that passes through all the Cinque Terre Villages. Even though I did not do that myself, I've heard it's a magical way to see Cinque Terre. I can tell you this for sure, when I go back - and I will most definitely go back - I will certainly rent a boat and enjoy Cinque Terre and its beautiful landscapes from the sea.
Was Monterosso my favourite? Hell yeah! Its beach is just too beautiful. And I can't say no to a beach. I definitely recommend visiting and hey - go early!! The amount of tourists (says a tourist herself right...) is toooo damn high! So if you get there by dawn, you'll be able to walk and take some photos in peace without it looking like an entrance to a Justin Bieber concert. If you've visited Monterosso already, do let me know your thoughts!
Till the next post,
Leo
