Rick Steves Says This Ancient Castle In Italy's Cinque Terre Is Popular Among Tourists

Italy's Cinque Terre is comprised of villages featuring plenty of the attributes that make Italy so special. Cinque Terre is bursting with color as narrow, winding streets lined with rustic buildings move up and down its rolling hills. Cliffs give way to beaches with clear water, and fresh Italian cuisine is always within reach. These villages are filled with history, too.

Global travel personality Rick Steves says Vernazza is his favorite Cinque Terre village, and he has seen other visitors fall in love with it too. Steves points out Castello di Vernazza (or Doria Castle) as a particular highlight for this village's tourists. More of a tower than a castle, its nickname is Belforte, or "the place of loud screams," because of the warning shouts guardsmen would give if they saw potential invaders. Pirates were among those who posed threats to Cinque Terre in past centuries, which adds to the intriguing lore of Castello di Vernazza. "A tower has stood guard here for 1,000 years. Visitors climb to the top for the view and to imagine past raids," Steves explains in a YouTube video. You also might see visitors jumping into the ocean from a cliffside platform right next to the tower.

Within the view from Castello di Vernazza is Chiesa di Santa Margherita di Antiochia. The simple interior of this church makes it feel as if its carved right out of the cliffs. The view also includes Convento Di San Francesco, a convent and church that sits above the jagged rows of buildings. Vernazza is small enough to allow yourself to get lost in, so weaving your way in and out of these rows is a must, even if you don't go all the way up to this historic landmark.

Castello di Vernazza is high on the peninsula that juts out around Vernazza's beach. Aside from wading in the water here, you can check out the little boats along the peninsula's port. Look closely to see which ones have their own names, but do not climb aboard: These boats are privately owned.

Some travel enthusiasts point to Rick Steves himself for popularizing Cinque Terre and making it more crowded — something called the "Rick Steves Effect." Ironically, Steves knows the best way to avoid crowds on a visit to Vernazza. "Given that the vast majority of the crowds are day-trippers," Steves writes, "make a point to get the most out of those cool, relaxed, and quiet hours early in the day and in the evening." And be sure to visit Doria Castle while you're there.