Porto Venere

Tuesday
We took a break from hiking today, and took a boat trip to Porto Venere, not actually part of the Cinque Terre National Park, but the next town to the south. The boat trip was wonderful, stopping in at the villages of Corniglia and Riomaggiore en route, and giving you a different perspective. Though it is not part of the Cinque Terre, it still bears similarities to the Cinque Terre villages, such as the tall brightly colored buildings lining the harbour - see 1st extra. Perched above the town is the castle Doria with its walls around the historic centre. My blip is taken from the castle, looking down onto the Gothic church of St. Peter. Having explored some of the town, we had lunch overlooking the harbour, then went for a swim in a rocky cove below the castle, known as Grotta di Byron, after Lord Byron, who was very attracted to the place. We then took another short boat trip around three small neighbouring islands, Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto, affording some wonderful scenes. We then had time for a gelato before taking the boat back to Vernazza. A fabulous day! I have also included an extra of the Church seen from the boat