10 Things to Do in Cinque Terre in September

Cinque Terre, in La Spezia, is a strip of towns on the Italian Riviera and also one of the most popular destinations in the country, particularly for the beauty of its beaches, for the striking buildings on its cliffs and for the number of attractions it has to offer, especially in summer, but also during the rest of the year, such as in September, when the region empties of tourists, but the good weather persists.

Some of the best things to see and do in Cinque Terre to discover the region in September include taking part in the patron saint festivities of St. John the Baptist, going on a diving excursion in the best weather of the year, visiting the towns with few tourists and taking a swim at Guvano beach, which is considered one of the most picturesque in Cinque Terre.

In the summer, the weather is very hot in Cinque Terre and the beaches become the most visited sites in the region by tourists arriving in large numbers, so making excursions in the areas near the coast can become complicated and ineffective, since in the case of diving and snorkeling tours you will not be able to discover in full the marine fauna. But conditions change in September, when the region empties.

Towards the beginning of autumn the low season of Cinque Terre begins and tourists leave the city. However, the weather is still warm and pleasant, making it the ideal time for diving and snorkeling excursions to the beaches of Fegina and Neptuno in Monterosso al Mare and Canneto in Riomaggiore.

In September, moreover, the waters are calmer and on diving excursions you can discover the main specimens of the marine reserve, from rays and octopuses to dolphins. You can also snorkel during the best Cinque Terre tours that include boat trips and enjoy a swim in the waters of the Ligurian Sea.

One of the best things to do in Cinque Terre is to enjoy the gastronomy, which stands out for its basil pesto, olives, seafood and anchovies, especially those of Monterosso al Mare, where during the third week of September every year the Anchovy Festival is organized.

At this festival you can taste the fresh and salted anchovies of the region, which are prepared grilled, fried or natural in olive oil with tomatoes. The anchovies of Monterosso al Mare are famous throughout Italy and are considered a delicacy of La Spezia, which you can discover at the stalls of the fairgrounds, which is installed next to the statue of the Giant.

You can participate in the festival for free, since you do not need to pay an entrance fee, but only what you want to consume at the stalls. During the festival, you can also enjoy musical events and other typical foods, as well as regional wines. The Anchovy Festival is usually included in the best gastronomic tours of Cinque Terre.

Interesting details

• Price: admission to the festival is free.
• When: during the third week of September.
• Where: Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre is made up of the towns of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore and they all have very different attractions to offer you, even Corniglia, which is the only one of the Riviera's towns that does not connect directly to the sea, so the best option to discover them is to walk them thoroughly, although in summer it can become very complicated by tourists and in winter by the weather.

If you visit Cinque Terre in September you can visit the roads and alleys of the region with a much smaller influx of people than the rest of the year and also with an ideal climate, since the heat will not be suffocating, but it will offer opportunities to take a bath and walk or take the train to the places you can not reach by car, since for some years Cinque Terre limits the circulation of vehicles in most of its streets.

If you plan to visit Cinque Terre in winter, the rains could alter part of your route and also complicate the movement between towns, so the beginning of autumn in September is the best time to discover with few tourists one of the most visited regions of Italy.

Corniglia is the smallest of the villages of Cinque Terre and the only one of them that is not directly connected to the sea, as it is located on a promontory that is over 100 meters high, but visiting it is no less interesting, as it has a wide literary tradition since Giovanni Boccaccio mentioned it in the Decameron and it is also famous for the pilgrimage of San Bernardino.

This religious ceremony is held on September 8 every year and consists of a feast at the hermitage of Corniglia, where the villagers arrive after a pilgrimage that combines the tradition of San Bernardino with the trekking route.

The pilgrimage crosses the village from the center to the hermitage of San Bernardino and also includes typical food and craft stalls and cultural activities, such as music concerts and theater performances.

Details of interest

• Price: you can participate in the pilgrimage for free.
• When: September 8 every year.
• Where: Corniglia, Cinque Terre.

Guvano is the best known beach in Vernazza and also one of the most famous in Cinque Terre, not only because it is one of the few in the region that is located in a wild area, free of restaurants and services, but also because the only road through which it is possible to reach the beach is a rocky gorge on the border between Corniglia and Vernazza, which will make your visit magical at the beginning of autumn.

September is the best time to take a swim in Guvano because you will find few tourists and you can enjoy a pleasant climate, but also because when summer ends the nudist season on the beach also ends, so you can take a swim quietly and even visit it with children, if you plan to visit Cinque Terre with your family.

Keep in mind that access to the beach of Guvano is not easy and the best way to enjoy it is to spend the whole afternoon, so it may not be advisable if you plan a short stay in the region. If that is your case, here is a list of things to see and do to discover Cinque Terre in 2 days.

Since Unesco included Cinque Terre in the list of World Heritage Sites, the island of Tino, which was also included, remained along with other territories within the administration of the region. Today, Tino remains a great mystery, but one of the few certainties is that September 13 is the celebration of San Venerio, the patron saint of La Spezia.

San Venerio is an enigma in himself, but it is believed that he lived on the island as a hermit and that his shrine was built on Tino to indicate the site of his death. Later, the monastery would be built there and the patronal feast would begin to be celebrated, which consists of a mass and a large bonfire that is kept burning all day to ward off the cold that will come with the end of summer.

You can get to the island on your own or on some of the boat excursions that tour the islands of the region, although keep in mind that if you plan to visit Cinque Terre in the summer the places on the tours can sell out quickly, so I advise you to book in advance.

Details of interest

• Price: you can visit the island for free.
• When: September 13 every year.
• Where: Island of Tino, Cinque Terre.

Trento Longaretti was one of Italy's most famous contemporary painters and lived for much of his life in Corniglia, where he set up his workshop and was inspired by Cinque Terre, a place he described as one of the most beautiful places on earth. Today, his workshop is also an art museum and every September 27 activities are organized there to celebrate the anniversary of the artist's birth.

Visiting Trento Longaretti's workshop is an ideal plan if you plan to visit Cinque Terre with children and if you want to live an alternative experience to the traditional ones in the region, because in the museum, in addition to the author's works, you can participate in painting activities, attend lectures and explore the history of the Italian Riviera through the artist's legacy.

Trento Longaretti's workshop is located in the attic of a discreet house that is only distinguished by the striking red color of its facade, the green of its openings and the lighting, which you can discover if you plan to visit Cinque Terre at night.

Interesting details

• Price: entrance to the workshop has an initial cost of approximately €5 per person.
• When: September 27 every year.
• Hours: during the summer the museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.
• Where: Corniglia, Cinque Terre.

John the Baptist is the patron saint of Monterosso al Mare, which is the most famous and crowded of the Cinque Terre towns, and if you visit the region in September, you can take part in the patron saint festivities, since in Italy they celebrate his conception and not his birth, as is common in other countries.

Every September 23 in Monterosso al Mare the activities of the patronal feast are inaugurated with a mass in the Church of St. John the Baptist, followed by a pilgrimage. In addition, food stalls are set up around the main temple, which remains open throughout the day so that visitors from other parts of Italy can take part in the celebration.

In the vicinity of the Church of St. John the Baptist you can also shop for handicrafts and visit the gift stores, as the church is one of the focal points of Cinque Terre.

Interesting details

• Price: you can participate in the activities free of charge.
• When: September 23 every year.
• Where: Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre.

The Golfo dei Poeti is one of the main sites of La Spezia and in September, to close the summer season, swimming competitions are organized for all ages and all levels, so if you are a fan of the sport, you can participate in the competition or come as a spectator.

Generally, the competition starts during the last days of August and closes during the third week of September, so you can watch the final stages and also enjoy the food stands and musical concerts that are organized around the event.

Keep in mind that Golfo dei Poeti is located on the outskirts of Cinque Terre, in the central area of La Spezia, so you will have to spend part of your trip to travel to and from the region to the gulf, which could make you lose time for other activities if you have planned a short stay. If that is your case, here is a list of activities so you can get to know Cinque Terre in 3 days.

Details of interest

• Price: registration fees depend on the category but start at 18 euros per person.
• When: the final instances are during the third week of September.
• Where: Golfo dei Poeti, La Spezia.

The Notte Bianca is a tradition that started in Rome and consists in turning public squares into entertainment ven ues during the second weekend of September with musical events, music shows, plays and food stalls. This tradition has spread to other places in Italy, including Cinque Terre, so you can enjoy the Notte Bianca during your September trip.

In Cinque Terre the main sites of the Notte Bianca are the main square of Monterosso al Mare and Piazza Vignaioli in Riomaggiore, but in any town you are in during the second weekend of September you can enjoy the shows, mostly featuring local artists.

During the Notte Bianca museums, stores and public spaces in general also remain open, making it one of the best opportunities to get to know a different profile of Cinque Terre.

Details of interest

• Price: most activities are free and public transport offers discounts.
• When: during the second weekend of September.
• Where: in the public spaces of Cinque Terre.

September coincides with the end of summer in Cinque Terre and the beginning of autumn, so temperatures drop a little compared to the summer season, but remain at highs of 27 °C, lows of 17 °C and average temperatures of 23 °C, so the weather is pleasant.

September offers one of the best climates for adventure and trekking excursions and for walking through the villages of Cinque Terre and taking a swim or going on diving and snorkeling excursions.

September marks the beginning of the low season on the Italian Riviera, so it empties of tourists and radically changes the map of the towns, which are no longer crowded with visitors. This makes it an ideal time to visit the towns and their attractions with good weather and few tourists.

Note also that the decrease in tourists also influences prices, so you will find that accommodations and excursions are cheaper than if you visit Cinque Terre in April or during the summer months.

Once summer ends, prices drop drastically on the Italian Riviera, especially for accommodations and excursions, which tend to empty of tourists and offer reduced rates, making September one of the best months of the year to visit Cinque Terre.

Also note that if you book excursions and accommodations in advance, you can access better discounts and avoid last-minute price increases.

September is a month with a pleasantly warm temperature in Cinque Terre, so I recommend that you pack the following items in your suitcase:

• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Comfortable shoes
• Sun hat
• Light T-shirt
• Light coat
• Lightweight pants
• Rain jacket
• Light sweaters
• Swimming shorts