EAT AND DRINK IN THE LIGURIAN COAST - TRIP CODE: LIGGUSTARE
8 days 7 nights
Day 1: Albenga
Arrival in Albenga in the morning and free time for lunch. Meeting with the tour guide and visit of the best preserved old town in western Liguria with its medieval building, the houses, the famous red towers, the St. Michael Cathedral and the Baptistery. Visit to a farm that produces wine, olive oil and herbs like basil, sage, rosemary, bay leaves, thyme, marjoram, mint, parsley, chives exporting them all over the world. Visit of the vinification cellar and bottling place, the heart of the farm. It’s included a wine tasting. Then transfer to Imperia, accommodation in the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Imperia, Dolceacqua, Apricale
Breakfast in the hotel and guided tour of Imperia, composed by Porto Maurizio and Oneglia with the famous harbor and the beautiful historical center. Then visit of the Olive’s Museum " Fratelli Carli ". Later transfer to the Nervia Valley. In this valley there are the most beautiful villages of western Liguria as Dolceacqua, certainly the most picturesque, with the Doria Castle and a dense network of narrow streets and stone houses, also famous for the "Rossese Dolceacqua DOC" an excellent ligurian red wine. Lunch in a typical restaurant:
- Ravioli with meat sauce
- Pocket stuffed veal with roasted potatoes
- Creme caramel
In the afternoon wine tasting in a nice winery of the village. Transfer to Apricale, a medieval village perched on a hill that has one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, with the parish church, oratory and a lot of palaces that are all different from each other, filled with murals, sculptures and paintings of many artists who have left their works in this place, even in recent times. The work certainly more curious is the bike on the roof of the church, visible from afar. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: The caves of Toirano, Balestrino, Castelvecchio Rocca Barbena, Erli, Zuccarello
Breakfast in the hotel and baggage preparation. In the morning guided tour of the Toirano Caves, a complex of karst cavities known for its variety of forms of stalactites and stalagmites, and for the discovery of traces of Homo sapiens from more than 12,000 years ago and remains of "Ursus Spelaus" approx. 25,000 years ago. Lunch in a typical restaurant:
- Tagliatelle with mushroom sauce
- Escalope with Vermentino wine with vegetables
- Panna cotta
In the afternoon guided tour on the "Road of Olive Oil" passing through Balestrino, Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena, Erli and Zuccarello. Visit of the historic villages of the hinterland between castles, olive groves and very beautiful landscapes. Then transfer to Genoa, hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Genoa
Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with the tour guide and visit of the historic center. A walk through the narrow streets of the city, called "carruggi" fascinating tales reveal the official history with special anecdotes and curiosities, myths and legends, which reveal the charm and beauty of this magnificent city. You will visit Piazza De Ferrari, the Doge's Palace, Christopher Columbus’s House, San Lorenzo’s Cathedral, Piazza Banchi, "Museums of Strada Nuova", Palazzo San Giorgio and the Old Port area. Lunch in a typical restaurant:
- Trenette pasta with pesto sauce, potatoes and green beans
- Sea bream fillet with olives and pine nuts ligurian style
- Typical Cake
In the afternoon, at the Imperial Palace, “pesto demonstration“, the sauce is famous all over the world. Then tasting of pesto sauce with focaccia and drinks included. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Genoa, San Fruttuoso, Portofino
Breakfast in the hotel. Early in the morning transfer to the Genoa fish market, which opens at 5 am! Remember "Creuza de Ma" by Fabrizio De Andrè? The sounds of boxes shifted and the voices chanting in the background were recorded right here! Then transfer to Camogli, meeting with the tour guide and visit of this ancient fishing village with its famous "towers" houses. Visit of the the Maritime Museum, the Dragon Castle and the Archaeological Museum. Lunch in a typical restaurant:
- Seafood spaghett
- Mixed fried fish with salad
- Lemon Sorbet
Then transfer by boat to San Fruttuoso. Visit of this ancient hamlet, famous for its abbey dating back to 1.000 a. C., recently restored by the FAI. Transfer by boat to Portofino and visit of the famous village. Return by boat to Rapallo and to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Sestri Levante and Varese Ligure
Breakfast in the hotel, baggage preparation and transfer to Sestri Levante. In the morning meeting with the tour guide and visit of this beautiful village, known for its beautiful Bays "Baia delle Favole" and "Baia del Silenzio" and for its characteristic historical center with typical “caruggi” full of historic shops. Visit to an old Olive Oil Mill, dating back to 1867, which still operates today with very modern systems. Lunch in a typical restaurant:
- Pansoti in walnut sauce
- Sliced beef with rocket and parmesan
- Chocolate cake
In the afternoon transfer to Varese Ligure, a beautiful village in the Vara Valley, also known the Organic Valley, thanks to all the specialized agriculture farms. Visit of the famous medieval hamlet and then visit to a dairy farm specializing in organic cheeses with tasting of cheeses and local wines. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Cinque Terre National Park
Breakfast in the hotel, meeting with the tour guide and transfer to Riomaggiore by train, the first village of the park, from where begins our excursion. Cinque Terre National Park is composed by five villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. The most famous path is the "Via dell’Amore" that connects Riomaggiore to Manarola, and, continuing on the "Sentiero Azzurro" visit of all the other villages. In addition to wonderful churches and sanctuaries, the particularity of this area is the landscape with terraces overlooking the sea with a lot of vineyards producing excellent wines DOC, as Schiacchetrà, and olive groves. Lunch in a typical restaurant:
- Penne with prawns and zucchini
- Vernazzana Tegame ligurian style
- Doughnut at sciacchetrà
In the afternoon wine tasting in a beautiful winery in Monterosso. Return by train to Sestri Levante, dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Day 8: Portovenere
Breakfast at the hotel and baggage preparation. Meeting with the tour guide and transfer to La Spezia. Transfer by boat to Portovenere (approx. 30 min. Navigation). The morning is dedicated to a visit of this beautiful village with its harbor, St. Peter Church, built at the top of the village where you can enjoy a wonderful view, the twelfth century Castle and Byron's Cave, where the famous English poet went to get inspiration for his poetry. Lunch in a typical restaurant:
- Seafood risotto
- Baked fish with potatoes
- Cake with custard and pine nuts
In the afternoon return to La Spezia by boat and departure.
