Following the coastline, step into the slow pace of Cinque Terre
The first time I stood by the coast of Cinque Terre, I suddenly understood what "beauty without deliberate arrangement" means.
There was no grand opening, nor a must-complete checklist, just walking along the small path between the mountains and the sea. The sea was at my feet, the village behind me, and everything was just right.
Cinque Terre is made up of several small villages built on the mountainside, with houses that look as if they were casually painted in colors—orange, yellow, pink—layered on the cliffs. Looking down from a high point, the sea is a very clear blue, gradually becoming shallower near the shore, where you can clearly see the outlines of the rocks. Small boats are tied on the water, gently swaying with the waves, and time here seems to slow down.
Walking further into the village, there are narrow stone-paved alleys. The houses on both sides are close together, and sunlight can only fall in the middle, shining on the walls and the clothes hanging out to dry. Occasionally, someone pokes their head out of a window to chat or sets up a small table at the door to drink coffee. This sense of everyday life is more touching than any "tourist spot."
I really like the photo spots in Cinque Terre, and they are actually not complicated at all.
Stand at a high point to shoot the village and sea, leaving the foreground to rocks or vegetation, naturally creating layers in the picture;
Go to the harbor area, shoot the small boats on the water from a low angle, with the colorful houses as the background—no matter how you shoot, it won’t go wrong;
In the evening, as the sun slowly sets and the light softens, every shot feels cinematic.
There’s no need to deliberately find the "best angle," just follow the path and stop wherever it looks pleasing.
If there’s something about Cinque Terre that especially moved me, it must be the rhythm.
Here, you don’t feel chased by an itinerary, nor do you need to keep checking the time. Spend the morning slowly walking in the village, sit by the sea in the afternoon, watch boats enter the harbor, watch the reflections on the water; when sunset comes, the whole sea is dyed golden, and people naturally quiet down.
On this trip, joining a tour actually turned out to be very worry-free. Transportation and timing were all arranged, so we only needed to focus on the scenery. The guide’s explanations were detailed, telling you the characteristics of each village, why the houses were built that way, and which areas used to be fishermen’s living quarters. After listening, looking at the scenes in front of you adds another layer of understanding, rather than just rushing through.
Cinque Terre is not a place that stuns you at first glance, but it grows on you.
You will remember the color of the sea, the light and shadow in the alleys, and that relaxed feeling of not having to rush.
When leaving, I suddenly felt a bit reluctant.
Not reluctant to leave a particular spot, but reluctant to leave this rhythm—
In Cinque Terre, slowing down is itself part of the journey.