380 CINQUE TERRE. 



decreased so considerabh-, and the number of deciduous 

 trees is so great, tliat one can harcll)' consider tliose 

 places situated to the south east of Sestrl Levante as 

 o'ood winter resorts. On no account could the^• be re- 

 commended to those suffering from chest complaints, 

 who are in search of a milder climate in the winter and 

 like to be surrounded b\- e\-ergreen shrubs and trees. 



The Nature lover also should postpone his excur- 

 sions to the eastern part of the Riviera di Levante until 

 late in the spring, that he ma^- then see the beautiful 

 country in its full glory. This applies especialh" to the 

 Ciiu|ue Terre, that fantastic realm of rocks which is 

 well worth\' of a \'isit. 



The Ciiujue Terre deri\e their name from five 

 ston\" districts between Levanto and Porto \'enere. Tliese 

 are situated in the narrow inclentations of the coast and 

 rise abrupth- Irom the sea-shore towards the mountains. 

 The\- are onh' a kilometre apart, but sk\--high precipices 

 tower between them, running out into the sea and form- 

 ing insurmountable barriers, so that it takes an hour 

 to get from one place to another. In making the Viix 

 Aurelia, these invincible obstacles had to be avoided 

 and in order to pass this strip of coast the road was 

 carried over the heights. Modern science at last tunnelled 

 these rock}' masses b}- means of explosives, and thus 

 brought into communication people whose onh' intercourse 

 with each other and the outside world had previouslv 

 been by sea. Storm\- weather isolated them com- 

 pletely, for landing at these precipitous cliffs was then 

 im]:iossible. 



