Cinque Terre - Uneven Land City of Italy

Cinque Terre has become a globally renowned tourist destination, captivating visitors with its breathtaking natural beauty. This Italian gem is celebrated for its unique and unevenly terraced landscape, drawing widespread admiration through captivating images showcased across various platforms. Positioned along the scenic coastal line of the Italian Riviera within the Liguria region, Cinque Terre offers an unparalleled experience for travelers.

The city's allure is centered around its five distinct villages: Monterosso al Mare, Corniglia, Vernazza, Riomaggiore, and Manarola. Each of these charming villages contributes to the overall enchantment of Cinque Terre, creating a mosaic of picturesque landscapes and cultural experiences. In the subsequent sections, we will delve into the individual attractions and unique features that make these villages must-visit destinations for any traveler seeking an unforgettable journey along the Italian coastline.

Upon viewing the images, it becomes evident that Cinque Terre is a meticulously planned city nestled amidst hills, with its hillsides seamlessly integrated into the sprawling expanse of the Cinque Terre National Park. The city's distinctiveness and captivating beauty have earned it the prestigious designation of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The harmonious blend of urban planning, natural terrain, and enchanting landscapes makes Cinque Terre a truly exceptional destination, celebrated for its cultural and environmental significance on a global scale.

Throughout the centuries, residents of Cinque Terre have meticulously constructed their homes, ingeniously creating terraces on the vertical landscape adjacent to the cliffs overlooking the sea. Accessing this remarkable destination is conveniently possible through road, train, and boat services that operate at frequent intervals. It's important to note that private cars are not permitted in the town, but taxis are available for hire, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the surrounding areas.

Cinque Terre stands out as one of the world's most sought-after tourist destinations, contributing significantly to Italy's growing popularity among global travelers. The city's unique charm, combined with its breathtaking landscapes and distinctive architectural features, has firmly established it as a must-visit gem on the international tourism map.

Nevertheless, Cinque Terre is marked by its unusual vulnerability to torrential rains, leading to periodic floods and landslides. A significant event in the city's history was the devastating impact of floods on October 25, 2011, particularly affecting Monterosso al Mare and Vernazza within the Cinque Terre region. Despite the challenges posed by such natural occurrences, the city's inherent beauty continues to attract tourists, and tourism has emerged as a substantial source of income for the resilient residents.

Attraction:
Vernazza: Cinque Terre, a sprawling region in Italy, encompasses several significant villages, with Vernazza standing out as a popular destination known for its natural bathing areas. The city's allure extends to its impressive cliffs and serene seaside, offering visitors a unique and tranquil experience. In its historical role, the city served the nation as a crucial port for large commercial ships. Exploring Vernazza reveals a network of mysterious alleys, vibrantly colored houses, and breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, making it a wonder in the world of tourism. The optimal time for a visit is during the summertime, when the charm of this place is at its peak for travelers.

Manarola: Another noteworthy attraction in the Cinque Terre region is Manarola, renowned for its natural bathing areas and captivating picnic spots. Situated in the vicinity of the Riomaggiore Municipality, Manarola proudly holds the distinction of being the oldest city in Italy. Its origins trace back to a community formed by residents migrating from other villages within the Terre region.

Historically, Manarola was under the rule of the Carpena Empire and the Fieschi Family until 1276. The town's unique charm lies in its diverse architecture, with many houses clustered on the rocky hills, creating a visually striking and picturesque landscape for travelers to explore.

Riomaggiore: he next captivating tourism spot in Cinque Terre is Riomaggiore, situated just a few kilometers away from Montenero. Nestled between two rugged mounts that slope into the sea, the city is divided into two parts — North and South — with an underpass connecting the two. Notably, the longest railway tunnel is strategically placed between these distinct parts of the city.

Historically, Riomaggiore traces its origins to the 7th century when it was founded by Greek refugees. Over time, the city was ruled by various feudal families, including the Turcotti, Ripalta, Cerico, and Fieschi families. Like the rest of Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore is renowned for its vibrant and uniquely styled houses, with the designs of its homes standing out as particularly remarkable.

Adding to the allure of Riomaggiore is the romantic footpath known as Via dell’Amore, which is also part of the Blue Path. This scenic pathway begins in Riomaggiore and concludes in Manarola, offering a delightful journey for visitors. Notable landmarks in Riomaggiore include the St. John Baptist Church, chapels and oratories, Riomaggiore Castle, and the entry point of Via dell'Amore, providing a rich tapestry of historical and architectural wonders for exploration.

Monterosso: Another significant highlight in this renowned global tourist destination spans across two inlets, with the Aurora Tower standing prominently near the Bruanco River, adding to the city's allure. Monterosso houses the historical core and is distinguished for hosting the largest beach in Cinque Terre, conveniently located near the railway station. Monterosso's railway station holds the distinction of being one of the best located close to the sea on a global scale.

The town of Monterosso, with its approximately 2,000 residents, thrives largely on tourism, serving as a major source of income for the local populace. Notable landmarks in Monterosso include the Giovanni Battista Church, Capuchin Monastery, oratories, castle, towers, walls, and the iconic Giant, contributing to the rich historical and architectural fabric of the city.

Corniglia: Cinque Terre may have limited attractions, but each city is a tourism gem, and Corniglia stands out as a noteworthy destination. Accessible by train, reaching Corniglia involves climbing 382 stairs, although a bus service is also available for convenience, with an average ticket cost of 1.50 Euro.

Key points of interest in Corniglia include St. Peter Church, the Oratory of the St. Catherine Flagellants, remnants of Genovese fortifications, the expansive Spiaggione beach, and the nudist beach famously known as Guvano. These attractions contribute to the unique charm and appeal of Corniglia as a must-visit location within the Cinque Terre region.

The Blue Path: A truly spectacular and globally renowned trail, the Cinque Terre Blue Path is an absolute must-visit for anyone exploring the region. Spanning a length of 12 kilometers, it connects Prevo to Vernazza, with an 8-kilometer stretch corresponding to the Via dell'Amore. Officially named Sentiero Azzurro, this breathtaking path takes approximately five hours to traverse, offering an unforgettable journey through the picturesque landscapes of Cinque Terre. Don't miss the opportunity to experience the beauty and wonder of this renowned trail during your visit to the region.

The High Path: An invaluable location in the city, accessible only to serious hikers due to its challenging trails, is the trekking area beyond Cinque Terre National Park that connects the two towns of Levanto and Portovenere. These paths are deemed dangerous, and only experienced hikers are permitted to navigate them. The surrounding area of this city is exceptionally beautiful, urging visitors to extend their stay in the village to create truly memorable moments.

Other noteworthy locations to explore in Cinque Terre include the Sanctuaries path, Eat Street, and Beach Square. For those opting to spend an extended period in the Terre town, it is advisable to make advance hotel bookings, as accommodations may be limited due to the consistent influx of crowds throughout the year.

How to reach Cinque Terre?

Traveling to Cinque Terre offers various transportation options:

By Air: The nearest airport to the destination is Pisa, with another viable option being Genova. Firenze airport is also accessible and well-connected to major cities worldwide. Upon reaching Genova, a convenient two-hour train journey will take you to Milan, bringing you closer to Cinque Terre.

By Rail: Cinque Terre's numerous villages are efficiently connected by trains, ensuring seamless travel between them. Some stations exclusively cater to local trains, so it's essential to confirm your train's destination. Frequent trains operate from Genova, and La Spezia is also well-connected with a substantial number of trains.

By Road: For a scenic journey by road, consider the route via La Spezia. Take the Litoranea route from La Spezia, promising a picturesque drive filled with natural beauty and traversing deep valleys.

Cinque Terre stands out as a truly magnificent destination for holidays. Plan your trip, and immerse yourself in the splendor of this dream location to create lasting holiday memories.

Kathmandu - Impressive City of Nepal

I always dream for world tour, though selecting the best places to visit confuses me. After long research I decided to visit one of the most demanding and favorite tourist location Kathmandu. This capital city of Nepal country, Asia is turned as big attraction for abroad visitors. Yes! The visitor strength is increasing year per year in Kathmandu. In general, there are many tourism spots in the city like Lalitpur, Madhyapur Thimi, Kirtipur, Bhaktapur and many other small valley communities. The other formal names of Kathmandu are KTM and Tri-city. 

Now the key point for me to visit Kathmandu is, it is the most beautiful and peak station of Nepal. The altitude of Kathmandu is 1,400 meters from the sea level shaped in bowl design. City is bordered by four major mountains such as Nagarjun, Chandragiri, Shivapuri and Phulchoki. I know you will lose interest if I discuss more about the history or importance of the city. So no more wasting time of my readers I am going to discuss about the valuable attraction points of Kathmandu. 

Now the big surprise for my readers is there are nearly 448 tourist attractions in Kathmandu city and I am afraid that I will not be able to describe each place in this short note. However, I will present the major spots of Kathmandu so that you will not miss the valuable locations of the city.

Attraction of Kathmandu:

Boudhanath Stupa: People from Nepal are devotees to Gautam Budha and you will find the big stupa and temples of Buddha in whole Nepal. However, the impressive and most beautiful stupa per my visit is Boudhanath placed on top position by many travel experts. This imposing spot is believed as house of great sages. People also believe that last time of Gautam Buddha was spent in Kathmandu and his bones are placed in the city as well.  The believers list is longer of Buddhism in the country and visitors have to walk in the clockwise direction of stupa as a prayer part. 

Swayambhunath Temple: 2nd spot as traveler’s choice of Nepal is Swayambhunath temple. This holy spot is beautiful and surrounding is amazing as well. Mental peace and mantra sound is help the person to relax the mind. Here you will feel fresh and light mental status after few hours only. I mean if you have any mental stress or you are not comfortable with your present situation this temple place is best for you. Surrounding area is covered with valleys and greenery and that gives amazing feeling to the visitors. 

Kopan Monastery: 3rd location as per results is a monastery again a holy place famous for structural design, peace and sceneries. Kopan is listed as one of the big monasteries in the world and more than 100’s of monks and nuns are accommodated at this monastery. It is the best place for meditation and even people come to this place for stress relief and meditation courses. 

Garden of Dreams: In my opinion this is the heaven on earth, though a little crowded but best place to visit. It is the historical garden of Nepal at the middle part of the city. Because of its beauty it is named as Garden of Dreams so you can justify the importance of this place. 

Pashupatinath Temple: Nepal is counted as pure Hindu nation so you will find countless holy places in the country. One of the holy temples of Kathmandu is Pashupatinath the temple of Lord Shiva. Festivals are special time to visit this area as people celebrate the Shiva Ratri with full of excitement at this temple. 

Hanuman Dhoka Square: Next available spot is a world heritage site of Nepal known as Hanuman Dhoka Square. Large amount of monkeys are living here and temple of Lord Hanuman is special at this place. 

Welcome to My Yard: The place famous for temples, forts, ceremonies and cultural events is next spot to visit. You will find bustling lanes with some real magic at WMY. If you love shopping then WMY is top location for you in Nepal.

Basantapur Tower: A historical place famous for wonderful antiquities. The landmarks and lookouts closer to this tower are amazing. About the construction part it was built by Ruler Prithvi Narayan Shah and to reach the tower you have to attain to Kathmandu Valley.

Jaganath Temple: Lord Krishna temple is another spot for voyagers in Kathmandu also known as Jaganath shrine. This temple place is listed on 5th position by many holy travel portals as best spots of tourism in Kathmandu. The structure is old but still active and impressive site to visit. Cultural events are conducted at several intervals at Jaganath temple. Here the 17th century shrine is main to visit, over all a great site to visit. 

White Monastery: A must see spot of Kathmandu turned as best destination for the visitors. This beautiful place is offered by many travel agencies as well. White monastery is added as prime tourist destination of Kathmandu in packages of travel companies. 

Durbar Square: Here you will be able to visit monuments, shrines and animals dot. The spot is important as all Nepal Kings are crowned at this square at different intervals. 

There are countless other places to visit in Kathmandu like Pullahari Monastery, Basantapur, Budhanilkantha, The Crematoria, Thamel, Dakshinkali Temple, Kaiser Library, Kashthamandap, Buddha Nilkantha Temple, Kumari Chowk, Nagarjun Forest Reserve, Vajrayogini Temple, Babar Mahal Revisted, Bhimsen Tower, National Botanical Gardens, Sankhu Village, National Museum, Maru Ganesh Shrine, Degu Taleju Temple and many more. The list is longer and not possible to describe each place here. That will bore our readers so I have mentioned the important spots of Kathmandu in this short note. 

Climate Conditions:

Average temperature of city is from 20 - 28 degree Celsius throughout the year, though night becomes chill due to surroundings. Temperature in night is recorded as 2 degree the lowest in Kathmandu. If we go through records and information from the experts Kathmandu is the warm zone of Nepal.

How to reach Kathmandu?

By Air: Kathmandu International Airport is properly connected to many big nations because people reach this wonder place regularly specially for honeymoon. It is the only international air hub in Nepal positioned at 5.5 km distance from the city. Flights from Delhi, Qatar, Bangladesh, UAE and Bangkok are available in good quantity. Other abroad cities that are connecting Kathmandu through air are Sharjah, Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur, Amsterdam, Paro, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Kolkata, Seoul, Karachi and many more.

Domestic Flights: internal flights are available throughout the Nepal so if you are in the country then also you are getting chance to visit Kathmandu faster by getting the domestic air flights. You can even plan to other cities from Kathmandu if you have enough holidays. Commercial flights are accessible from/to Bhadrapur, Bharatpur, Bhairawa, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Dhangarhi, Nepalganj, Simara, Pokhara, and Tumling Tar. 

You will be surprised to know that there is no railway station in Kathmandu. However, you will get the private taxi and buses as transport mode in Kathmandu. 

By Bus: Nepal state transport is providing buses for travelers and that is the cheapest mode as well, but local people travel in buses so you might face the difficulty and full rush in the bus while traveling. Its better to hire the private prepaid taxi instead of state buses. Road conditions of Nepal are not perfect so taxi is again best option to travel in Nepal. Indian cities are having direct buses for Nepal so if you are reaching India then get to Patna, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Kolkata or Lucknow to get direct bus for Kathmandu.

Important facts about Kathmandu:

City is cute and best to reach but you need to be careful when you are walking in the street. Nepal is not a developed nation and localities are having less income sources. If the taxi people asks for more tip or extra rent then don’t pay him as there is no tipping culture in Nepal. Water is a concern that need to be taken care and you should boil or either use the branded drinking water canes. Water infection is common in the city so be careful and use the boil or filter water only. Carry the map with you of Kathmandu when you are going for sightseeing so that you will be getting complete idea about the particular place.

Hallstatt - Wonder Lake City of Austria

If somebody ask me my favorite destination for tourism then I will prefer to go to Hallstatt, a wonderful town of Austria. Hallstatt is basically village comes under Salzkammergut region of Austria. However, the town is famous for countless things and salt production is one of them. Culture of Hallstatt is similar to Celtic, pre-Illyrian and Proto-Celtic people of Europe. 

I personally believe every tourism place is unique and have different features. Hallstatt is beautiful and full of nature made locations. The clear and striking images available at Google and different websites are enough to state that this place is wonder and best creation of God. 

Hallstatt town is also declared as UNESCO World Heritage site because of human activity and natural landscape. The ancient history is spectacular of Hallstatt. Describing the beauty of this world tourism place is not possible in simple words so we will not waste the time of our best readers and will discuss about the tourist attractions of the town. 

Attraction of Hallstatt:

Hallstatt town is 7,000 years old and its more older than Rome. 

Hallstatt City View: View of this amazing city gives different feeling to you. Start your journey from Hallstatt bus stop and take pleasure of panoramic view of lake, mountains backdrop, green valleys and swans view in the lake. Austrian King Franz Josef brought swan to Hallstatt in 1860 and Empress Sisi came here on annual retreats.  

Funicular: Next attraction of the town is Funicular an amazing spot. Funicular is surrounded with Alpine mounts. I am a good trekker and I love to visit exiting and dangerous places for my adventure. However, Funicular is not at all trouble location, but the trekking of 3 minutes to climb 855 meters height is best experience here. 

Rudolf's Tower: Also known as Rudolfsurm is another spot for voyagers. Rudolf's Tower is having 855 meters more height than Hallstatt town. Surrounding view is best to do from Rudolf tower. Construction of this tower was done in 1282 by Duke Albrecht of Austria. 

Hallstatt Salt Mine: Also recognized as Salzwelten is the place famous as oldest salt mine. In early 19th century, the labors discovered a pick built of stag horn and that was the starting phase of this mine place. As per sources the mine is nearly 7,000 years old and that makes this place oldest mind of the world. 

Hallstatt Stroll: Frankly speaking, the Hallstatt is wonder place and the major attraction of the town is their tight timber homes. The houses are built close to each other like a single wall is used for two houses. One thing is for sure that you will not get this kind of view in the world except Hallstatt.

Braugasthof: A computer guesthouse served as the salt manufacturing office. The quick ground developed center since beginning that is also known as Market Brewery.  It is basically a restaurant famous for stack beer known as Braugasthof.

Museum: History of any place can be learnt by visiting museum and the similar rule follows with Hallstatt. This town is major source of salt production, but the power came to the city in nearly 800 to 400 BC. Since that period Hallstatt town got popularity and got trade connection with many big nations. This museum established in 2002 is having stuffs that help people to learn the 7,000 year old history of the town. 

Dirndl-To-Go: You love to click images at different locations, then reach Dirndl-To-Go. A place where you will feel like you are at World Heritage center. This is the busiest area of Hallstatt and time hours when you can click more photos are form Wednesday to Sunday between 1pm to 6pm. 

Gasthof Simony: The narrow pathway market where you can buy some amazing handmade stuffs. You will get some memorable places here so don’t forget to carry your camera. Alley's buildings are key attractions of Gasthof as they are made of bright multicolor stone. 

Market Square: One more spot for you also known as Marktplatz that is famous for early age livings. After seeing this square you will easily get the idea about the glory days of Hallstatt. Here Christmas is big festival and travelers must plan their trip on Christmas holidays. 

Talking about each space will get you bored. In short, some other knowing places to visit in Hallstatt are Gasthof Zauner, Ruth Zimmerman's Pub & Café, Gasthof Gruner Baum, Protestant Church, Stepanie Boat Ride, Catholic Church & Cemetery, Bone House and Classic View Point. 

Boat riding: the boats and yachts in lake are major attraction for travelers. The reason is surrounding of lake is full of snow peaks and greenery. You will get different experience by visiting Hallstatt. The boat ride will take you to the tiny railway station. However, you can plan your return to your home from Attnang-Puchheim stations. 

How to reach Hallstatt?

By Train: Hallstatt station is available having train line is between Salzburg and Vienna, though you have to get down at Attnang-Puchheim. From this place you have to get the train of Obertraun and Bad Ischl. Hallstatt station is closer to Bad Ischl then Obertraun. 

By Bus: Cesky Krumlov Shuttle is available in Hallstatt that is used as door-to-door transportation from Hallstatt to Salzburg, Český Krumlov and Linz. Bean Shuttle is one of the cheapest shuttle available between Cesky Krumlov and Hallstatt.