Comments on: The Cinque Terre is Closed

By: Pall Forloney

Pall Forloney — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:52:09 +0000

As an American living in Riomaggiore for about 12 years, I would say your a little bit slow on acting out what you believe in how to run Cinque Terre. The main problem is tour groups which flood the Via dell Amore starting at 10 am every day. Spending nothing in Riomaggiore or Manarola, but in Vernazza where the group leaders get their kick backs. Just take a look at the stores in Vernazza, every hole is selling something to the Americans who Rick Steves sends to them. Let us not forget the young students who come for the day or week end, for them it is spring break all over again. Taking to the trails in flip flops and filling up beer as they go. I do run a trekking business here and believe me I have some of the best of people, also go to places in small numbers and off the path that everyone knows. I want to show the best of the Cinque Terre and want them to see it as well. To force some one who wants to see it to take a number and wait is stupid and the 5 Terre is not the Grand Canyon either. Not every one is getting rich in 5 Terre as you put it, the season is short here and please stopping writing about 5 terre. You did your 2 visits and let other people discover for themselves this beautiful place. Now tomorrow we are all going to Vernazza and help dig them out of the mud. We all stand together here and it was a tough year for all of us here.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 15:29:03 +0000

Thanks for your comments, Jane – and I don’t think I’m an expert, either! I was partially basing my thoughts here on a discussion I had with an expat, someone who made a home in Vernazza for a decade (living there year-round), so it wasn’t just based on my visits to the Cinque Terre.

And I don’t think I’d like to see no tourists in the 5T, because it’s a beautiful place that deserves to be seen. I think there just need to be some limits, that’s all. Not that I think that’ll happen, of course, but I had to throw my two cents out there.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 23:25:19 +0000

I partially agree with your comments, but I don’t think that 2 trips to Vernazza makes you an expert on this topic. As someone who has been going to Vernazza for 5 years (twice a year) and stay in the homes of the local people. My daughter works at one of the local bars each summer when we are there. Possibly the same one you referred to. Two of my dearests and closests friends are local people, who make their living off the tourist. Are they getting “rich”? By no means because the cost of living for the locals is steep! They depend on the tourist for their income. I agree 100% that there is too much day traffic that hikes through the village. To me the real concern is the loud college age group (normally females) that parties late and has no respect that this village is someones home: a home where someone is suffering from cancer, or a family is trying to put children down for the night (they do have school the next day), and the working man/woman has to get up early to catch a train to work. Me personally, I would like to see no tourist, but this is unrealistic. Here I agree with your thought on 75% should not be allowed. Vernazza is a special place – where the land, water and sky comes together. Those of us that are fortunate enough to coexist with the locals are the ones who step off the train and word spreads quickly through the village that their American friend is back once again. Their question is always the same after lots of hugs and kisses – How long do you stay?

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 01:32:28 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Annie – and I agree. This isn’t something tourists or even tour group leaders can (or should) impose on the locals. Any measure to help preserve the area would have to come from residents; and in a way, they’ve already taken the first step. By creating a national park of the hike between the villages, requiring people to pay for the privilege to use the paths and limiting the hours the paths are open, they’ve already acknowledged that something needed to be done. It’ll be interesting in the next decade or so to see if they do anything else (raise the ticket prices, further restrict hiking groups, etc.).

As for tourists educating themselves, I think that’s the ideal, but far from the norm. Travelers like you are the exception. And BTW, you’ll have a grand time in the 5T – if you need or want any tips, lemme know!

By: anniebanannie

anniebanannie — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 03:42:36 +0000

As someone who is going to 5T in a few weeks, I think it is easy to say something should be limited when you’ve already been.

I don’t think this phenomenon is unique to 5T. As global travel increases, for better or worse, this will happen in many places. Tourism is a vicious cycle…this is where the local influence would have to come in. They would have to influence others not to build new hotels, not to let out their rooms, etc. In large part, it is up to them to help preserve their area.

Tourists have to play their part, educate themselves, etc., but this type of movement needs to be more grass roots.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:41:15 +0000

Well, there’s a difference between “the poor” and budget travelers – many of whom can (and do) visit the 5T. They’d be the first ones shut out of the area if prices skyrocketed.

But in general, yes – I do agree with you that people should be made to pay for damage they inflict on something. It’s that way in a store (you break it, you buy it), so why not in nature?

By: James Martin

James Martin — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 05:01:32 +0000

I doubt that the poor can afford the Cinque Terre in the first place. The point I was trying to make is that people pay a whole lotta money to get to Italy–so one assumes they can afford to pay for the degradation they produce. It’s really just paying for “what ya done.” Or, in other words, your fair share of the damage.

james

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:57:36 +0000

Thanks for the note, James, and for your post – I actually think you bring up a really good point, and it’d be great if just raising prices would work. What I think would happen, however, is that the higher prices would turn the 5T into something like Positano or Monaco, where only the uber-rich can afford to really spend any time there. And wouldn’t that cause the same reaction you noted – “You $*^*& liberal elite scum are always out to limit access to cool stuff to have it all for yourselves!” ?

You are correct, however, in that no matter how many times someone says, “You want really undiscovered Italy? Try ____” – it won’t be a hit until it’s being printed in every single Italy guide book. And then it is, of course, no longer undiscovered Italy. Obviously, to find truly off-the-beaten path destinations anywhere, you’ve got to use the guide book as a reference only in so far as if a place is NOT listed, then it’s worth visiting.

By: James Martin

James Martin — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:48:09 +0000

Well, ok, the free-market ball is in your court:

http://wanderingitaly.com/blog/article/141/closing-the-cinque-terre

james