Ok, so I am off to Cinqueterre, the five seaside villages on the Ligurian coastline that seem to have been dreamed up in some Italian fairytale. These five towns are small, truly rustic villages are mostly void of cars and accessible by train or boat (ok, there was the "old people's van" in the village we stayed in, but come on, they're old). The tows are nestled into rolling valleys covered in grape vineyards and olive groves, each more charming than the next. The streets are lined with little shops, restaurants and bakeries. Food wise, Cinqueterre is known for its seafood, focaccia, and pesto (which is originally from this region. Our hostel referred to it as the "special green sauce of the region." Best special sauce I've ever had). They make a great sparkling white-wine from the grapes that grow above the villages, appropriately called Cinqueterre.
My favorite two towns were Riomaggiore (where we stayed) and Vernazza, pictured below. These two photos were taken from the same time, one facing towards the sea and one into the town. Did someone say breathtaking?
As a snack we picked up some rosemary-potato focaccia from a small bakery in Riomaggiore, Panificio Sacchelli (Via Colombo, 88, Riomaggiore). It was chewy, salty, oilve-oily, and perfect. Far and away the best I've ever had. We ended up going to this place a total of five times in two days. It was just that good.
For dinner, we went to La Lanterna (in Riomaggiore by the marina). We ate on their patio overlooking the sea. Our waiter, an friendly older man who clearly had years of experience at this place and served the entire place, recommended some fried calamari for starters. Yes please.
For the main course? Why not pick one of the freshly prepared pastas from the blackboard. Which do you recommend? They're all delicious. How about the penne with octopus sauce? Excellent choice. And yes it was.
For dessert? Those strawberries that man is eating over there, covered in the limoncino cream sauce. Is that all? And some walnut cake. Why not add some semifreddo? Well, if you insist...
