CINQUE TERRE & ITALIAN RIVIERA

The Cinque Terre, with its pastel-colored fishing villages and terraced hillsides covered with vineyards and olive trees, constitutes one of Italy’s most impressive landscapes. What is unique about this area is that it was crafted by humans: carrying rock after rock up the hillsides on their shoulders and using these rocks to build low walls, they meticulously changed the steep mountainsides into cultivable terraces. Before the advent of the railway in the middle of the 20th century, the ancient systems of hillside footpaths were the towns' only link to the outside world. These winding ways still form one of the most amazing coastal routes in Europe. The Cinque Terre are five (cinque) towns along the Liguria coast, south of Levanto. If there were Sei (six) Terre, the sixth would be Levanto. Its territory lies within the Cinque Terre National Park and is our base to explore the area.

ACTIVITY: guided small group tour
GRADE: moderate
TRIP CODE: ICCIT
GROUP SIZE: min 4, max 10
DURATION: 5 days/4 nights

2010 PRICE:
€ 890.00  per person

Single suppl:

€ 140.00*
*limited availability

2010 - Guaranteed departure date:
Start       Finish
10 Oct – 14 Oct Guaranteed


Day 1 – Levanto - Monterosso
Walking – moderate about 3 hours
Arrival on your own in Levanto. At 14,00 p.m., we meet our tour leader in the hotel for a welcome meeting and we receive a first briefing about what lies ahead. We start walking directly from our hotel in Levanto. After a visit of its 13th century black and white striped Chiesa di Sant'Andrea (Church of Saint Andrew), exemplary of 13th-century Ligurian Gothic style, we head off to Monterosso following a trail above the sparkling water of the marine conservation area. We reach the ruins of a Chapel dedicated to St. Antonio and pass by an old lighthouse going up through steps and slopes. Walking on the hillside through a shadowed pine forest and along some terraces, the ancient mule path takes us at Punta Mesco, one of the most remarkable bird’s-eye viewpoints over the five villages. We go down through antique stone steps to Monterosso, the largest village of the Cinque Terre. We take our time to enjoy the Fegina Bay with its sandy beach and the interesting historical heart with remain of the medieval fortifications before coming back by train to Levanto.
This evening we enjoy a welcome group dinner at a local restaurant in Levanto.(D)

Day 2 – Riomaggiore – Manarola – Corniglia & Vernazza
Walking – easy to moderate 3.5 hours
Today we enjoy a lovely walk along the remaining four of the five scenic villages that give the name to the Cinque Terre. Our day starts with a short train ride to the village of Riomaggiore. A brief paved coastal path, known as the "Love's Trail" , takes us to the picturesque village of Manarola. From Manarola to Corniglia the trail becomes narrow and steep and we reach the next village of the five lands walking up a  beautiful switchback staircase that goes from sea level to the hamlet up on a sheer cliff. The views are amazing and it’s really a breath-taking walk. In Corniglia we take our time wandering through the narrow alleyways of steep multi-coloured houses before taking our next section of the path to Vernazza. We walk through ancient cultivated terraces, olive groves and woodland, and then along the cliff edge, with impressive views coming into Vernazza: a cluster of rooftops around a lovely harbour. There is plenty of time to explore the tiny village with its weather beaten multi-coloured facades, before taking the train for the short journey back to Levanto.
Our dinner tonight features delicious local produce and traditional ligurian dishes.(B, L, D)


Day 3 – Portofino – San Fruttuoso
Walking - easy to moderate 2.5 hours
Today we have a superb walk out of the Cinque Terre Park over to the Peninsula of Portofino. We begin the day with a train ride to Santa Margherita Ligure (1h.20min). From the railway station a short local bus ride (15min) takes us to the glamorous village of Portofino called the Jewel of the Riviera.
It’s a perfect starting spot to taste the charming atmosphere of the Italian Riviera. Portofino is a gorgeous fishing village boasting an atmosphere of pure elegance.  From here we start an impressive hike along a scenic trail that winds its way above the sea before reaching the medieval Benedictine abbey of San Fruttuoso located in a tiny rocky cove.  Take time to visit the monastery before traveling by boat along the coast to Camogli. We then have a 45 min. train ride back to Levanto for an relaxing time prior to our dinner.(B,L,D)


Day 4 – Portovenere & Isle of Palmaria
Walking - easy 2.5 hours
Our final day offers a pleasant visit to discover the fascinating beauty of the Poets' Gulf. We reach by public transports the delightful village of Portovenere, elected Unesco World Heritage site for its unique beauty. The name of the ancient Portus Veneris refers to a temple to the goddess Venus, situated on the promontory where we can admire the terrific beauty of the
San Peter Church built over a cliff.  From the harbor of Portovenere we take a boat to the Isle of Palmaria. Here we start an easy walk around the Island, admiring steep rocky cliffs, suggestive grottoes and passing abandoned marble quarries. A panoramic ferry journey takes us to Monterosso, giving us the opportunity to admire all the five lands before returning to Levanto for the evening’s farewell dinner and celebrate the conclusion of our Italian adventure. (B,L,D)


Day 5 - Departure
Our trip ends after breakfast. From Levanto you can easily catch trains for the rest of Italy.(B)


INCLUSIONS
English speaking tour leader (from day 1 to day 4 included)
Accommodations:
4 nights hotel *** in Levanto
Meals: 4 breakfasts, 4 dinners & 3 picnic lunches
All transfers according to the program

ITEMS NOT INCLUDED
Visas, Airfare & airport taxes
Travel Insurance (compulsory)
Drinks
Other meals not mentioned in the itinerary
Anything not mentioned in “included”


NOTES
A reasonable good level of fitness is required. The walking is graded moderate with 2 to 5 hours walking each day. There are lots of ascents and descents on stepped trails on the coast. We suggest that you start regular exercise. Your preparation should include climbing and descending steps. Please note that some paths are not suitable for severe vertigo sufferers.