Spend seven magical days exploring the villages and vistas of the Italian Riviera. For active women who want to experience Italy’s Cinque Terre—a necklace of villages perched on sun-soaked Mediterranean cliffsides—this trip is a bella vita dream come true. We set out from Santa Margherita, a city of orange blossoms and palm-ringed beaches, to get a taste of the daily rhythms and traditions of the region. We take local trains and stay at sleepy inns. Each day, we hike steep seaside trails and descend into jewel-box villages like Vernazza and Volastra from the cliffs high above, exhilarated by the physical challenge and the beauty of the scenery that changes with every step. Past castles and medieval fortresses, through vineyards and olive orchards stretching to the deep blue Mediterranean, we explore cobblestone alleys with tucked-away trattorias where we share fresh antipasto di mare. As our trip winds down, we spend a lazy morning strolling the island of Palmaria, then take an afternoon to wander Portovenere and swim in the Poet’s Grotto. The Cinque Terre inspired Byron and Shelley, and it will inspire you, too.