by Nicole Bravo
Vernazza is a small town located on the northwestern coast of Italy about an hour south of Genoa. It's one of the smaller of the five towns which make up the Cinque Terre region on the Italian Riviera. The town is populated by daytrippers during the high season but only has about 200 residents year-round. We found it to be the most awe-inspiring place we visited in Italy. Not only was the landscape wonderfully varied between vineyard covered hills, vibrant buildings, and crystal-clear waters as far as the eye can see. The people of Vernazza were as lively, beautiful and diverse as the landscape.
We spent a week there and had the honor and privilege of being welcomed into this small community where everyone knows everyone. Our first evening there, as we wandered up and down the tiny main street, we were waved over to join a few people for drinks, and that was just the beginning. The next day we hung out with our new artist-friend Susie and ended up at a birthday celebration. That was our largest introduction to a number of friendly locals. From then on, it was day after day of running into new friends at various pizza places, restaurants, bars and gelaterias. Although the town may not be famous for their night life, there was plenty to entertain between listening to the oldest man in town play his saxophone for us out his third-story window, and being delighted by dancers and musicians in the streets. The culminating event was going out on a friend's boat our last evening, being treated to an amazing meal, and enjoying conversations under the stars. Our lives were greatly enriched by our experiences and the friendships forged in that Italian paradise.
