Trip Overview:
May 17 - 23, 2008. (Custom and self-guided departures also available at other times.)The Cinque Terre consists of eighteen kilometers of sheer rocky coastline with terraced hills and vineyards sloping steeply down to the sea. Since 1926, the Cinque Terre towns have been part of the province of La Spezia. Just south of Portofino on the eastern coast of Liguria, the Riviera di Levante, five towns on the Ligurian Sea maintain the charm and character of Italian villages of the past. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are the pastel towns that make up Cinque Terre, or five lands.
They are vintage settlements where life moves slowly, each clinging to the rocky coast, defying gravity and time. All the villages share unique characteristics; all are set on a beautiful coast hidden away in small, natural coastal inlets, built into the rocks and suspended above the sea between the beach and the hills.
Cinque Terre represents one of the best preserved natural and semi-natural areas of the Mediterranean; this is mainly due to history and topography, which have limited excessive housing development and the creation of major roadways. Due to their isolation the villages have remained virtually unchanged for centuries, and upon viewing them from the sea in the ferry, one can appreciate their ruggedness.
Our trip will take place in the perfect window before the summer’s heat. We’ll be based in a friendly, family-run hotel a near the sea in Monterosso al Mare and will use trains and boats and our feet to access our daily adventures (and a range of delightful restaurants) in this dramatic landscape between the sky and sea.
Highlights:
- Sheer rocky coastline with terraced hills and vineyards sloping steeply down to the sea
- Vintage settlements where life moves slowly, each clinging to the rocky coast, defying gravity
- Ancient foot paths and stone walls that have been developed over hundreds of years
- Friendly, family-run three star hotel in a quiet setting
- Delicious local cuisine from land and sea, and tasty local wines
Transportation: Trains, boats and feet.
Moderate. 4-7 miles of walking daily, with options to extend or choose higher energy walks. We will walk along trails that can be narrow, uneven, and sometimes rocky. While the walks are moderate in terms of distance, the daily altitude gain/loss averages about 1000 feet, and the trails and trail surface can be quite rough in places. Hiking boots with ankle support are a must, and practice on rocky trails prior to the trip is highly recommended.
Your Itinerary:
Saturday, May 17: Trip Orientation and Welcome Dinner
Travel to Monterosso and meet your guide, Deborah Lewis, at 6:00 p.m. for a trip orientation and welcome drinks (probably a bottle of Cinque Terre wine), followed by your first delicious dinner. We’ll eat out at several restaurants during the trip, allowing us the opportunity to enjoy different settings and menus, while savoring the comfort of being able to unpack and relax from one base. Cinque Terre is a short and inexpensively priced train ride from a number of airports, including Genoa, Milan and Pisa. We will provide complete joining instructions in our trip confirmation packet.
Sunday, May 18: Sentiero Azzuro (Riomaggiore – Manarola – Corniglia)
Today we’ll travel a short distance by train to Riomaggiore where we’ll walk the section of the spectacular Sentiero Azzuro, or Blue Path, from Riomaggiore to Manarola and on to Corniglia. The Sentiero Azzuro is the classic way to explore the extraordinary villages and cultivated hillsides of the Cinque Terre while enjoying coastal scenery. It is one of the most scenic coastal paths in Italy and was made over the centuries by those who used it to move from one village to another. In many parts it was a mule track along the coast. The path from Riomaggiore to Monterosso is 12 km long but today we’ll walk half of it, allowing us time to explore the villages along the way. Most of the path is ancient and was well-known at the time of the Republic of Genoa, when Vernazza was the main docking bay of the area. The stretch between Manarola and Riomaggiore has been named Sentiero dell’Amore (Lovers’ Lane) because of its romantic beauty. After a short return train ride from Corniglia to Monterosso, we toast the day in a restaurant serving local specialties.
Monday, May 19: Monterosso - Levanto
Today we hike directly from our hotel, past the giant statue of Neptune and up to Punta Mesco, a beautiful promontory covered in Mediterranean bush and stands of Umbrella Pine trees. This five mile hike provides wide views of the coast from Monterosso to Portovenere to the south and from Levanto to Portofino to the north. In the last stretch, the trail descends gently with views of the coast and of the charming seaside city of Levanto with its castle and boardwalk. We wend our way through Levanto’s pedestrian zone past sidewalk cafes and take the short train ride back to Monterosso.
Tuesday, May 20: Riomaggiore – Portovenere
Today’s seven mile hike, like the Blue Path, is one of the finest coastal hikes in Italy and provides amazing views of the coast and the Gulf of Spezia. We have the choice of hiking up from Riomaggiore, or shortening the hike by taking the National Park van up to the hamlet of Biassa and starting our hike in a lovely chestnut forest. The panoramic views from the cliff top trail between the village of Campiglia and Portovenere are wonderful, as is the breathtaking view of the castle and the Bay of Poets as we hike down to Portevenere. We’ll have time to enjoy a gelato and explore the narrow and colorful streets of this medieval down before boarding a boat for the return trip to Monterosso. Dinner tonight is on your own, giving you an opportunity to explore yet another of the many restaurants in Monterosso, perhaps in the old town, or to linger longer in Portovenere.
Wednesday, May 21: Portofino
Today’s adventure will take us to the beautiful and glamorous village of Portofino and the National Park of Portofino. We travel by train to the beautiful city of Santa Margherita, and enjoy a short and winding bus ride along the coast to this gem whose beauty does not disappoint, despite the expectations set by its fame. From Portofino we walk through groves of chestnut, pine, and olive trees, enjoying spectacular views of the sea, to San Fruttuoso with its rocky harbor and 10th-century medieval abbey. In San Fruttuoso we have the option of returning to Portofino by foot, or taking a boat. After exploring Portofino and picnicking in the lovely town garden on the hillside, we’ll board the boat for Santa Margherita and the train ride back to Monterosso.
Thursday, May 22: Corniglia – Vernazza - Monterosso
We come full circle today, completing the Blue Path that we started on our first hike. After our five minute train transfer from Monterosso to Corgnilia, we hike up the elegant (and somewhat long) staircase to the hillside farming community of Corniglia, the only one of the five villages that is not directly on the water. Corniglia is perched on a promontory above the sea, and the walk out of town through the silvery green olive groves is memorable. We enjoy our last lunch together al fresco in one of Vernazza’s many outdoor restaurants, and then hike back to Monterosso. Our farewell dinner tonight, perhaps with a toast of Cinque Terre wine to the week’s accomplishments and memories, will take place in a restaurant above the town with the ever-present view of the Mediterranean.
Friday, May 23
Today we say good-bye to the Cinque Terre and depart for home or other adventures.
Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual walks and sites may vary due to season, special events or weather. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise. Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
NOTE: THIS TRIP IS ON SALE UNTIL APRIL 15, 2008. $275 OFF IF YOU BOOK BY APRIL 15 2008.
Included in price:
- Price noted above pertains to the May 17-23, 2007 guided tour; private or self-guided departures would be priced separately based on specifics pertaining to those departures
- Double occupancy hotel ($2600 per person)
- Single occupancy, subject to availability ($2900 per person)
- Transportation to daily hikes by train or boat
- 6 Breakfasts (at the hotel) and 5 dinners (in local restaurants)and 1 lunch
- Daily guided walks led by an expert guide
- Welcome drinks
- Extensive literary and historical information shared informally during walks
- Travel brochures and hiking maps.
Not included in price:
- Air travel and transportation to Monterosso al Mare
- Lunches (except 1 lunch) and 1 dinner
- Tips for guide
- All beverages with dinner.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Italy
Hiking & Trekking
Archeology/History
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