Italy's Ligurian Coast Offers Quiet Alternatives to Crowded Cinque Terre

Levanto, a town of about 5,000 residents on Italy's Ligurian coast, is promoted as a less‑crowded counterpart to the famed Cinque Terre villages. Its wide sandy beach, extensive promenade, historic sites such as the 13th‑century Sant'Andrea church and the San Giorgio hill‑top fort, and a market selling local foods give visitors a more relaxed seaside experience while still providing easy access to the region’s scenery.

Boat tours departing from Vernazza allow travelers to reach nearby ports such as La Spezia without using the often‑busy train service. The journeys showcase the dramatic coastline and pass by the narrow railway section between Vernazza and Corniglia, an engineering work from the 19th century that runs in a tunnel to avoid the sea. The trips also highlight recent shoreline changes, with recent rock‑fall incidents and the current safety measures along the rail line.

Together, these options highlight how tourists can explore the Ligurian Riviera while avoiding the peak‑season congestion that typically affects the five iconic Cinque Terre villages.