WONDERFUL ITALIAN RIVIERA - TRIP CODE: LIGWEEK
8 days 7 nights
1st day: The most beautiful villages in Italy and Sanremo
Meeting with the guide and visit to the famous Ligurian village of Apricale, a medieval village perched on a hill, which houses one of the most fascinating squares in Italy, and a series of buildings all different from each other. Then we will visit Dolceacqua, with its picturesque bind of alleys and stone houses. Free lunch, and stop in Sanremo, capital of the "Flower Riviera", characterized by the typical medieval aspect, with its perched houses located in the old part of the city, called "Pigna".
Finally we will continue our journey to Loano. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
2nd day: Triora, Taggia and Bordighera
Breakfast at the hotel and departure by private coach, to meet with the guide in the famous Ligurian villages of Triora, with its charming medieval village, and Taggia, home of the Taggiasca olives, with the downtown full of history and art.
Free lunch. On the way back to the hotel, we will stop in Bordighera for a visit to the city center.
Finally return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
3rd day: Genoa, the Superb
Breakfast at the hotel, and transfer to Genoa.
From here we will meet with the guide, for a walking tour, from Porto Antico to Piazza De Ferrari, passing through Via Garibaldi, Unesco Heritage, with Rolli Buildings, elegant noble residences.
We will delight you with a typical lunch in the historic center and the afternoon will be free for a while shopping in the downtown streets.
At the end return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
4th day: Genoa, Aquarium, Museums and Ancient Pharmacy
Breakfast at the hotel, with morning available, to visit the Aquarium of Genoa and the Museum of the Sea, in the area of the Old Port, or for those who prefer, the Museums of Strada Nuova, in Via Garibaldi.
Free lunch in the historic center of Genoa, and in the afternoon, we will meet with the guide, to move to the upper part of the city by bus, for a panoramic stop in Castelletto, admiring the city from above.
Finally we will visit the Ancient Sant'Anna Pharmacy of 18th Century, where Friar Ezio will welcome our group, showing the typical natural products that the Friars are still preparing today.
Return to the hotel in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
5th day: The Gulf of Tigullio
Breakfast at the hotel and meeting with the guide. We will leave for Camogli, where we will visit the seaside village, which houses the famous "towers" houses, and the famous Dragoon Castel.
At the end, we will board the boat to San Fruttuoso, where we will be able to visit the famous Abbey.
From here another ferry, but this time for Portofino, to visit the famous Ligurian village.
Finally, ferry to Santa Margherita Ligure: a wonderful and ancient village in which the imposing silhouette of its castle stands out, built in the 16th Century, the splendid complex of Villa Durazzo, admirable from the sea, and immersed in a fabulous 17th Century park.
Free lunch. At the end of the day return to Genoa for dinner and overnight stay atthe hotel
6th day: Cinque Terre
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for La Spezia, to meet with the guide to visit the villages of Cinque Terre National Park, where we will move by boats, with a free lunch during the day.
The Cinque Terre Park, included within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, consists of five villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso.
They are one of the most unpolluted natural Mediterranean areas of Liguria and Tyrrhenian coast, and give the opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views.
We will make a panoramic stop, where we will be able to see Riomaggiore from above, and then finally descend to Manarola, to embark to visit Vernazza.
Finally, the last boat to Monterosso, with a guided tour.
At the end, train to Levanto and return to Genoa by bus, with dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
7th day: Portovenere, Sarzana and the Bay of Silence
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by bus, and meeting with the guide in La Spezia, to continue our tour to Portovenere, with a guided tour of the historic center, among alleys and seafaring stories, under the church of San Pietro overlooking the sea, from which we will be able to enjoy a wonderful sea view, and finally, in front of the Byron cave, where the English poet went to draw inspiration for his poems (if the group does not wish to walk the distance from the bus unloading point and the center, possibility of shuttle).
Free lunch. In the afternoon, departure for Sarzana.
We will take a guided tour of the historic center, and on the way back, a stop in Sestri Levante, to admire the wonderful Bay of Silence, in the light of sunset. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Visit to the Olive Museum of Imperia
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Marseille. Stop and visit with tasting at the Olive Museum of Imperia, with an exhibition of materials gathered by the Carli family, in almost a century of research, thus representing the history of the olive tree that still characterizes the landscape of the Riviera di Ponente in Liguria. Free lunch during the day. Departure for return
