La Vita al Sole: Living the coastal life of Riomaggiore & Manarola

Riomaggiore is the first point of contact with Cinque Terre when arriving through La Spezia, full of authentic local life experiences.

Approaching the picturesque harbor, traces of Riomaggiore’s fishing heritage are visible in through the scattered boats both on land and in the water.

Brush shoulders with residents who come to sunbathe, read and relax on the rocky outcroppings around the harbor. This family sat and read together for hours.

After taking a swim, I followed this local boy’s lead and rinsed the salt water off before heading to a local focacceria to grab some lunch.

Listening to and watching the children of the town fish, swim, and run amok in the summer sun was one of the greatest pleasures of the afternoon.

I adored this little girl’s attitude. She looked right at me and stuck her tongue out as her dad reprimanded her for pushing her brother.

After an afternoon in Riomaggiore, head over to Manarola for some incredible outdoor activities that happen to be free of charge.

A walk across the top of the hill let me get up-close and personal with local vineyards.

Walking down to Manarola’s water access, I came across these girls who were enamored with this street artist’s paintings.

Manarola’s “beach” is cliff diving heaven, with a 6 meter high rock in the center of a lagoon perfect for jumping off of into the crystal clear water.

At sunset, residents emerged from their homes, ready to socialize and enjoy some time out of doors without tourists underfoot.

Staying in Manarola, the Cantina dello Zio offers excellent antipasti paired with spontaneous jam sessions that have a tendency to move to the cliffs after the bar closes. 

No matter what towns you visit, the locals are willing to take tourists under their wing, giving them a taste of what it is like to live a life in the sun.