Adrian Peterson alerted me to this post this morning as he has it highlighted on his Italian Reflections Daily Newsletter. The highlighted post for today is the updated situation in the Cinque Terre after the October 25th 2011 floods that caused substantial damage, particularly to Vernazza and Monterosso.

I read this with interest, as I have been there and done some walking – although a long time ago (it was in 1999 to be exact).  I also know that some friends and family of mine have intentions of going there later in the year.

Here is the situation as of March 18.  I found the map particularly interesting giving details of the state of the particular paths.

I have wanted to go to the Cinque Terre since 1995!  I can actually assign a date to it now as I was looking through my old Italian language university notes a couple of days ago and came across an article that I have saved for all these years, showing the brilliant colours of the Cinque Terre.

(taken from The Australian Way, April 1995)

I went there on a walking tour with about 12 other people and our two guides.  We didn’t just stick to the main path linking the five towns together.  Infact I have only seen three of them (Manarola, Corniglia and Vernazza), so I really do want to go back and explore some more.  On the above post giving the situation report, they even recommend that you take the lesser known touristic paths.  As they say the views are great and you do wind through vineyards and olives.

Cinque Terre postcard

Corniglia, 14th May 1999

Manarola, 14th May 1999

There may be many places on my wish list in Italy to go and visit for the first time, but the Cinque Terre is somewhere I definitely hope to return to one day.