Showing posts with label boats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label boats. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Vernazza Harbor

Painting by: Teresa Dominici, Medium: Acrylic on canvas, size: 24"x18" (60cmx45cm).

The Cinque Terre, are five small villages on the "Costa Ligure of Levante". The villages from north to south are: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Since 1926, the Cinque Terre towns have been part of the province of La Spezia.

We visited the Cinque Terre in Spring of 1989, and decided to visit each town on foot. 


Each town had his own charisma.

From Riomaggiore, we walked to Manarola along the section called “Lover’s Lane”. This is the easiest part of the walk, with the path paved and flat and giving you great views of the ocean. It took us right into Manarola.


From Manarola we followed the coastal trail to Corniglia or you can also follow the harder trails up and through the vineyards and olive groves.

The path from Corniglia to Vernazza is one of the hardest parts. The coastal path can be steep at times and get quite crowded. However, we did get great views of the towns and the terraced vineyards.

There are lots of things about Vernazza that make it known as "the jewel of Cinque Terre", and probably the first thing would be the beach. It is the only town in the Cinque Terre that has the closest thing to a natural harbor and offers superb swimming.


Leaving Vernazza for the final stop of Monterosso is the most challenging. The trail gets very steep at points and it’s a lot of up and down walking. However, we were rewarded with beautiful vineyards, olive groves, ancient stone houses, and crumbling walls.
 Cinque Terre 

Title, video, link & below text by: 

The World of Travel

 http://www.viaggiatore.net/

The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. It is in the Liguria region of Italy, to the west of the city of La Spezia. "The Five Lands" comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Cinque Terre is noted for its beauty. Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible "modern" development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach it from the outside. It is a very popular tourist destination.

In 1998 the Italian Ministry for the Environment set up the Protected natural marine area Cinque Terre to protect the natural environment and to promote socioeconomic development compatible with the natural landscape of the area.

In 1999 the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre. was set up to conserve the ecological balance, protect the landscape, and safeguard the anthropological values of the location. ( source Wikipedia
)
 


Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Cefalu, Sicily is an island of remarkable beauty

Painting By: Teresa Dominici, Year: 2011, Medium: Acrylic, the original is Sold. 

Cefalu' is located on the island of Sicily about an hour outside of its biggest city, Palermo. Upon walking into this town we,  were awe-struck by the natural beauty and sheer vibrancy of the city. 
Walking through the streets of this historic town is like taking a lesson in life and in history.

Cefalu' has so many beautiful sites to be seen. Must see is the Cathedral of Cefalu is the town’s main draw, and began life in 1131. The exterior of the building is extremely well preserved, and is instantly recognizable due to its large matching towers that flank the front porch. Built in the Sicilian Romanesque style, the interior houses a respectable collection of Byzantine art. There are a number of other churches to visit in the historic city, with the 16th Century pair of the Santa Maria dell’ Odigitria and the Santissima Annunziata just two of the fine examples of Baroque architecture. Also go to La Rocca to climb for the views.
Cefalu' has one of the best public beaches that we visited in all of Sicily. It’s clean sand and clear water makes it a popular beach, so be prepared for crowds.
La Rocca - Cefalu, Sicily, Italy 
Title, Video, Links & below text by:  

Created at TripWow by TravelPod 

Attractions
La Rocca Cefalu
Read more at: http://www.travelpod.com/ad/La_Rocca-Cefalu

 
Travel blogs from La Rocca:
- "Shona's sweet tooth satisfied we still had a couple of hours remaining before our train back to Palermo, so we decided to climb La Rocca, up an enormous stair case (The Salita Saraceno) winding up through three tiers of the cities walls, a "
- "Georgia and I decided to push on for the highest point of La Rocca, the castello"


Read these blogs and more at: http://www.travelpod.com/ad/La_Rocca-Cefalu#blog_content

Photos from:
- Cefalu, Sicily, Italy

 
Photos in this video:
- "View from La Rocca along the coast line" by Dinoshona from a blog titled "Cefalu, Cefalu..."
- "View from the Kastello, La Rocca Cefalu" by Guykb from a blog titled "Cheerful Cefalu"
- "Diana in her temple, La Rocca Cefalu" by Guykb from a blog titled "Cheerful Cefalu"
- "La Rocca looming above Cefalu" by Dinoshona from a blog titled "Cefalu, Cefalu..."
- "View from 'La Rocca'" by Rbartorillo from a blog titled "Cefalu"
- "Climbing La Rocca" by Guykb from a blog titled "Cheerful Cefalu"
- "Back of La Rocca" by Rbartorillo from a blog titled "Cefalu"
- "La Rocca" by Juneauwoman from a blog titled "Climbing La Rocca -The Rock"