Step right up! From big sets to small, Liguria is sea of stairs.

The town of Sori on the left, Riomaggiore on the right.

Location: Liguria, Italy ★

Probably the most popular of the Cinque Terre towns with Americans, Vernazza is jam-packed with tourists during the day. I hear it's nicer at night when the majority retire to other towns, but I wouldn't know because I've never stayed that long. I just can't handle the throngs. The town is too tiny on the main drag to really enjoy with the number of visitors it routinely packs in.

I think Rick Steves is pretty much to thank for its popularity. At least with the American set. His guidebooks are the most used in Europe by Americans, I believe.

Location: Vernazza, Italy ★

Though I'm generally not a fan of organized religion, I am a huge fan of churches - mainly of the external architecture, but sometimes the internal art and architecture, too. And while I'm not enough of an architecture buff to know for certain, it seems that as striped churches in Italy go, Liguria is the place to go to find the most magnificent variety.

The black-and-white striped church on the right is in the Cinque Terre town of Monterosso. A busy and well-touristed town, it seems a challenge to get a moment alone with this charming church during normal business hours, so to speak. I was in a thick crowd of gawkers on a weekday in May when I snapped this shot.

In contrast, the church on the right in Camogli is delightfully difficult to reach, and I was entirely alone with it. I'd spotted it on its hilltop perch from much lower down in town, and asked a group of local men how I might get up there. They pointed out the route and explained that it was connected to a monastery.

The next week I promptly got sick and all but gave up on seeing the church up close on this visit to Italy. But, by the grace of God perhaps, I felt strong enough on my last day to make the trek. I did it in honor of my youngest brother, who I'd found out a day or two before was in the hospital with a mysterious and virulent pneumonia. I'm agnostic, so I thought it would be nice to make the climb and say a prayer for him on the off chance that it might actually help.

I'm happy to say that two weeks later, my brother was released from the hospital to recover at home. He's still recovering and I like to think that in some small way, my visit to this pretty, sunny-striped church and the prayer I said for him there is part of why he's cruising comfortably back to good health now.

Location: Liguria, Italy ★

No, I did not have the "Hamburger Salad". But yes, I considered it. Briefly. I mean, so far as I know, you can't get such a thing Stateside.

As a self-taught calligrapher (who's not done much calligraphy in a long while), I love poring over other people's handwriting. So it figures that I'd have a thing for photographing handwritten menus. In the menu on the right, I particularly like the look of enoteca. How about you?

Location: Monterosso (Cinque Terre), Italy ★

This was essentially the weather for the duration of my two-week trip (Camogli on the left, Monterosso on the right, shot on the same picture-perfect day). Sadly, I only really got out and about for week one, as I spent pretty much all of week two sick with a nasty cold. The first week was so amazing though, as you can see, that I can't complain about lost week two photo opps. Plus, the second week was too hot to explore much, with temperatures rising into the 80s and feeling like it was well into the 90s. The first week was perfect - low to mid 70s every day.

Location: Liguria, Italy ★

Glorious photo. I can't wait to be there and snap some of my own.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - tripleman - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Riomaggiore, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of tripleman

I am so there!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - WanderingtheWorld - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Monterosso (Cinque Terre), Italy ★
Photo courtesy of WanderingtheWorld

In starting to plan a trip to the Cinque Terre region of the Italian Riviera, I found the perfect inspiration in this golden view out to sea. Gorgeous!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - St. Escercent - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Cinque Terre, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of St. Escercent

Riomaggiore has a special place in my heart. The one and only time I've been to the Cinque Terre region of the Ligurian Coast, I trained into Riomaggiore with somewhat less than impeccable timing. It seemed sunny enough, and then in blew a miniature monsoon. I took cover in a little cafe and oh, the time we had. The lights flickered on and off and we all stood in the open doorway watching the flash flood navigate its way down Main Street. And no sooner had it started than it stopped and the sun popped back out. It was surreal. It was fabulous. It was Riomaggiore.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - mgoalcantara - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Riomaggiore, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of mgoalcantara

Moving on today to another beach in Italy, along the rocky Ligurian coast. Here we are in a Cinque Terre town, looking at a typical crowd of sunbathers basking on the rocks. I love this photo. If you've ever been you'll agree - this is so Italy.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Evan Jake Cohen - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Cinque Terre, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of Evan Jake Cohen