One of the top destinations to visit in the world is Italy. From its picturesque hill towns to its breath-taking cliff towns and everything in between, Italy plays host to just about any kind of vacation you want. But how do you decide what to see? I recommend spending a good amount of time in the Italian Riviera visiting 5 small towns knows as the Cinque Terre and here are the top 3 reasons why.

1) Visually Stunning

Cinque Terre is comprised of 5 very tiny towns clinging to the cliffs along the coast of Italy. Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Manarola, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare are all distinct quaint towns that offer such stunning views you will never want to leave. The building colors are bright blues, pinks, reds, greens, yellows and more. In true Italian style the buildings in each town are stacked and packed all with their own little harbor and fishing boats on one side and lush mountain cliffs and vineyards on the other side. A must see for the artist, photographer, or anyone wanting to enjoy the beauty of these 5 towns.

2) Off The Beaten Path

Aside from being so beautiful, Cinque Terre is off the beaten path in more than one way. These towns are literally cut off from roads. There are parking sites you can use to get close and walk into the towns, but no tour busses or droves of drivers can or do come to these amazing places. The only way around each town is to walk and there are trains that stop at each town as well as a hiking trail if you choose to walk to each little city. Another way they keep from being overwhelmed is that the villas and hotels are truly Italian in style and comfort. You won’t find those who only enjoy night life, soft pillows and many extra amenities here, just peace and quiet of very small groups, and adventurous solo travelers.

3) Unesco World Heritage Site

Being a Unesco World Heritage Site means that no new buildings can be built and each town is protected from modernization. A blast from the past, these centuries old places hold unique culture, pride and beauty from a time long, long ago. The people who live here are from a long line of families that have lived here from the beginning. They are Italian through and through. The people are not the only part of this amazing place, but the buildings themselves show just how amazing it was to live in the world during this time. A time travel tunnel back to when people sustained themselves on the land and sea around them.

So take the trip of time travel when you go to these less busy, striking towns. Although those happen to be 3 of the top reasons to visit, there are many more, including hiking trails, amazing beaches and all the seafood you can eat!