| Destination of the week: |
| | Cinque Terre, Liguria |
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Its waters border the Bay of Poets, named after Shelley, Keats and Byron who fell in love with the area.
And there is poetry all around in Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, the five villages that make up the fabled Cinque Terre coast.
Their mixture of spectacular cliffs, scenic footpaths and sandy beaches has made them a magnet for visitors down the ages.
And no-one who has visited this marvellous 11-mile stretch of the Ligurian coast could be in any doubt why it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The best way to see it is naturally on foot, negotiating the well-worn coastal path that in days gone by was the only link between the villages. It takes about five hours' walking time, although you will doubtless want to stop off en route to soak in the scenery.
If going from east to west, the first village is Riomaggiore and the first section of the path the Via dell'Amore.
In Riomaggiore and Manarola, the village 20 minutes away at the other end of the Via dell'Amore, houses are almost stacked on the cliff-face as if peering over for a better look and they are the most unspoilt of the five.
Via dell'Amore is well named, given that the walkway sways romantically below overhanging rocks and various gaily coloured shrubs.
Many visitors stop off in Punto Bonfiglio, across the harbour from Manarola, which has a park with a bar and kids' play area. Once you've decided to stop for refreshments and a breather, Corniglia, the third of the five Cinque Terre villages, is about an hour away. Corniglia is the only one not directly on the sea and sits atop a hill encircled by vineyards.
The stretch between here and Vernazza runs through olive groves and vineyards. It is one of the prettiest sections of the coastal walk.
The last leg to Monterosso probably takes the longest, at two hours, but is undeniably worth the hike. Take your pick of its two sandy beaches, one in Fegina bay, the other where the River Buranco meets the sea, and soak up the sun or enjoy a relaxing swim.
Homes and property on the Cinque Terre coast and in this part of Liguria tend to be handed down from generation to generation and can prove pricy.
Most buyers who are searching for property in Italy and decide to buy a house in Liguria tend not to buy a property on the Cinque Terre coastline. Instead they opt for a property in Tuscany's nearby Lunigiana region, a short drive away, in scenic villages such as Pontremoli, Aulla, Tresana and Licciana Nardi.
If you buy a villa in Tuscany's Lunigiana region, you tend to avoid paying normal property in Tuscany prices.
For instance, on our website you can find a stonewall property to restore for as little as €25,000 and a house for €55,000. Just go to the property search function on the homepage and scroll down to Tuscany. You will find some incredibly affordable prices for property in Italy.
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