Kate Travels

Monterosso al Mare is the largest of the 5 villages in Cinque Terre, but this is by no means large as the population is possibly around 1,000 people. There are two primary streets serving as the main arteries from town right down to the beach. There are dozens of small alleys and streets that you can follow deeper into town. It is a quiet, picturesque town and on the main streets, you’ll find the typical souvenier shops, cafes and stores. Getting lost down the side streets is where the true magic is that gives you a sense of what it is to live in this fairytale town. We stopped for…

About 10 years ago, I bought a piece of artwork. I was attracted to the bright colors that the artist used as well as the magical seascape that was captured. A sunset in the distance and bright, surreal buildings that seemed to be carved out of a cliff. When I bought the painting, I believed it to be an imaginary landscape, because surely there could not be such a beautiful place on Earth? The painting was by Daniel Wall, the founder of a painting style known as Intense Impressionism and the painting is called The View of Manarola. When I found out a few months later that Manarola was a…