Greve
Barga
Lucca
Cinque Terre
Florence

Around Tuscany in September

Italy 2012

Cinque Terre

Via dell' Amore

We took a train from this station in Lucca to La Spezia - then to Vernazza.

It looks like large color-coded condoms are used to collect recyclables.

Wall map of Cinque Terre.

This is the view of the main street leading to the train platform from our room in Vernazza. In October 2011 a torrent of muddy water flooded down this street and eventually left all in its path under up to 2 meters of thick, hardened mud.

This is our chamber in Affitto Camera Rollando.

Our window is just below the balcony. Cars are only allowed on this road during Tuesday market hours.

The Blue Marlin Bar (more of an Irish Pub) has been a mainstay of Vernazza nightlife for locals. It's operation was interrupted for 7 months after the flood.

The main street of Vernazza, Via Roma, ends at the sea. 11 months before this photo an 18 minute landslide pushed everything in its path, including autos, into the port of Vernazza.

A pano of the harbor of Vernazza. On the right is the Church of Santa Margherita d' Antiochia - built in the 1300s.

Short pano of Vernazza's beach and the Church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia

A view of the octagonal bell tower of the Church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia.

Inside the Church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia.

Inside Vernazza's church through a fisheye.

Wide angle of Vernazza's main square, Piazza Marconi.

Wide pano of Piazza Marconi at night.

A view of Belfo Castle, built in 15th Century to protect Vernazza from pirates and invading Turks.

A beach off Vernazza, some how out of reach except for a knowing few.

We took a short walk on the path to Corniglia from main street Vernazza. A very steep walk to this tower - now a private residence.

We followed the steep path to Corniglia, stopped to catch our breath and looked back at Vernazza below.

We followed the path to Corniglia, stopped to catch our breathe and looked back at Vernazza below.

Flowers along the way.

A flower along the way.

Fishing from the back beach in Vernazza.

Great place for breakfast up the road from the train station.

Repairs from the alluvione in Oct. 2011 were still underway. I guess the narrow streets necessitate small constructions vehicles.

Riomaggiore is the southern most of the five villages.

Serene waters off Riomaggiore.

Serene waters off Riomaggiore.

Serene waters off Riomaggiore.

Living close to the sea in Riomaggiore.

The main street of Riomaggiore begins at the sea.

The main street of Riomaggiore begins at the sea.

Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre.

Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre.

On the main street of Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre.

Groceries on the main street of Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre.

The bakery on the main street of Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre.

Fish and chips on the main street of Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre.

Farther up the main street of Riomaggiore.

This is the Flagellant's Oratory or Church of Assunta. In the 15th Century flagellation became a popular mode of religious expression. Upon their death, members of this Confraternity received special funerals and were entombed within the church. We did not enter the building.

This sign was carved into the front of the Flagellant's Oratory. See the years 1579 and 1586.

Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre.

We reached this public park area at the end of the main street in Riomaggiore.

The view from a public park area at the end of the main street in Riomaggiore.

The view from a public park area at the end of the main street in Riomaggiore.

The view from a public park area at the end of the main street in Riomaggiore.

Bouganvilla growing on a stairway leading to public park area at the end of the main street in Riomaggiore.

Bouganvilla growing on a stairway.

We visited Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, on a beautiful, sunny day.

Riomaggiore. Notice the interesting angle in the stone layers.

The paths between villages is called Via dell' Amore because, until their construction in the 1920', there were very few ways for young lovers living in different villages to meet and court.

Looking back on where we came from on the Via dell' Amore. Parts of the path around Corniglia were washed away during the flood in 2011. Most sections are intact and well maintained.

While walking along the Via dell' Amore there are ways to climb down to the sea.

While walking along the Via dell' Amore there are ways to climb down to the sea.

Chains and metal mesh were installed along the cliff sides to safeguard against rock slides. It has become "custom" for couples to affix a padlock with their name to the metal fence and then toss the key into the sea.

On the path ahead we can see the next village, Manarola. Trains move through the mountain tunnels, stop at each village, and reach the rest of the coast of Italy.

Lover's padlocks on the Via dell' Amore. The keys are tossed over the cliff to the sea.

Lover's padlocks on the Via dell' Amore. The keys are tossed over the cliff to the Ligurian Sea.

Manarola from the ferry.

The water along the Cinque Terre is clear, and on such a hot day, refreshing for foot-dangling.

The ferry stops at each village.

A view of Manarola (?) from the ferry.

One of the many mellow pets we encountered while visiting Italy. This one took his master for a ride on the ferry.

Corniglia is the least accessible village since the path was washed out in 2011.

Monterosso al Mare is the northern most of the five villages. It also sustained severe damage from the flood and mudslide in Oct., 2011. Now it is well on the way to recovered.

Monterosso al Mare.

Shop in Monterosso al Mare.

shop in Monterosso al Mare.

Mortis-et-orationis Confraternitas (Church of the Brotherhood of Death and Prayer), Monterosso al Mare.

Inside the Mortis-et-orationis Confraternitas (Church of the Brotherhood of Death and Prayer), Monterosso al Mare.

The Church of the Brotherhood of Death and Prayer, Monterosso al Mare.

We stopped in this bar for a snack this time and in 2002. A tradition has been established.

Flowers outside the Bar Centrale, Monterosso al Mare.

While waiting for the "ferry" from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza we watched this guy pull his dinner from the sea using a string and hook... polpo grigliata coming right up.

Looking north along the shore from Monterosso.

Wide pano of Monterosso al Mare.

Clear, calm waters off Vernazza.

Felice Anniversario.

Greve

The Chianti Wine Festival
Barga

Medieval Jewel
Lucca

Luminaria di Santa Croce
Florence

Renaissance City-Fiat 500