Lying northwest of the Gulf of La Spezia, the Cinque Terre is still today an isolated region, which explains why its rugged landscapes are still so unspoilt. In 1997, Cinque Terre together with Portovenere and the Palmaria islands, Tino and Tinetto were included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, becoming a national park in 1999. A coastal path linking all five villages, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, commands splendid views.