Italy
_{May 2003 - Liguria (Cinque Terre)}

_Capital

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Rome

_Area

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301,230 km²
(7.2x the Netherlands)

_Time

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UTC +1

_Language

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Italian, German, French, Slovenian

_{Highest point}

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Mont Blanc de Courmayeur - 4,765 m
(2nd summit Mont Blanc mountains)

_Flag

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The first time a green, white, and red flag was used was by the Cispadane Republic in 1796. The Cispadane Republic in northern Italy was founded in 1796 by Napoleon Bonaparte. Green, white and red are traditional Milanese colors. Red and white come from the Milanese coat of arms which is a red cross on a white background. Green was the color of the uniform of the Milanese civic guard.

_Itinerary

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_currency

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The euro was introduced simultaneously in 12 European countries, as well as in Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City on 1 January 2002. This was the largest monetary exchange operation of all time. On the front of the note is a gate or window and a bridge on the back. These are all fictional. The euro replaces the Lire, introduced in 1861, which was known as the least valuable currency in Western Europe.

_Highlights

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The area between Levanto and La Spezia has been a national park since 1999. This is the Cinque Terre, a ridge with five picturesque villages at sea side. The villages are connmected via a path. Monterosso is the most northern village, then follow Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and finally Riomaggiore. Corniglia is the only one on top of a rock.

You can commute between the villages by train. It is not expensive. Hiking through the hills of the national park is also possible. From the water you have go up 700 meters to the top but it is worth the effort. If you hike alone you have a chance of meeting wild boars. Mountain bikers are active in the hills on weekends and they also use the hiking trails which are sometimes very narrow.

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Don't bring a lot of luggage if you choose to stay in Corniglia when you come by train. You have to climb a staircase with 377 steps. Corniglia lies on top of a rock. It is the quietest of the five villages.

A great hike leads from Riomaggiore to Portovénere in five hours. From Portovénere you can take the ferry back to Riomaggiore. Portovénere is one of the most attractive places of Liguria. Once it was a border bastion of the Republic of Genoa against the Republic of Pisa. The church of San Pietro is in a beautiful spot on the edge of the village. The vestibule dates from the 6th century, the Gothic ship dates from the 13th century.