General Information The Italian Riviera focuses on the visually dramatic coast east of Genoa - Riviera de Levante. This tour includes a combination of relaxed walking along with cooking classes that teach the regional dishes of Liguria and excursions focusing on local produce and wine. Highlights include: * Cinque Terre * Natural Park and Promontory of Portofino * Gulf of Poets * Montemarcello Magra Park
Itinerary Day 1 Arrive Santa Margherita Independent arrival in beautiful Santa Margherita where you will be greeted by our Slowtrails hosts. In the evening you will join them and fellow traveler's for a typical Ligurian meal 'al fresco style' at a nearby local Ristorante.
Day 2 Natural Park and Promontory of Portofino Walk Today's walking excursion takes us through the Parco Regionale di Portofino to the remote settlement of San Fruttuoso and romantic harbour town of Portofino. A natural park, Portofino is set is set on a beautiful and unspoiled promontory of dramatic cliffs and small cloves. Our walk takes you on trails that expose the full range of enchanting and unspoiled environments so typical of this region. You will cross remote farmlets and churches, secluded in areas of lush vegetation, and vista spectacular coastal scenery unique to the Mediterranean. Portofino walk - The walk is undulating with some steep ascents and descents, but will be no problems if accustomed to undulating walks. The walk between San Fruttuoso and Portofino town is a comfortable 2 hours and 1 hour between Portofino town and Santa Margherita. (There is easy access to ferry from San Fruttuoso and Portofino town for those that want a beak from walking)
Day 3 The Cinque Terre Walk From Santa Margherita we take the train to the 'Sentiero Azzuro', the renowned coastal path that links up all five fishing villages of the famous Cinque Terre. In 1988 the Cinque Terre was listed as a World Heritage under the protection of UNESCO. Along the paths and the centuries old flights of steps which were up to a short time ago the only communication land routes between the five villages, you experience the absolute magic of this landscape, with panoramas suspended between sky and sea. Cinque Terre walk - is 12 kms and will take a comfortable 5-6 hours to complete. You will have time to explore the villages and sample some of the fresh local produce. The walk is undulating with some steep ascents and descents but very achievable if accustomed to undulating walks (there is easy assess to the train or ferry for those that want a break from walking).
Day 4 Transfer to Ameglia in Val di Magra Morning bus transfer to our charming accommodation in the Ligurian town of Ameglia. Situated in the Luni hills with astounding views over the River Magra, Ameglia is a truly delightful place to experience Italian life. In particular you will experience the best of the local cuisine as our accommodation was established by one of Italy's most famous chefs and cookbook writers and is renowned for its wonderful food. Tonight's dinner is a special menu featuring traditional recipes and excellent wines from the region. Day 5 Pasta, Wine, and the Towns of the Val Di Magra Today we focus on the local food and wine. We commence after breakfast with a lesson in making pasta and pasta sauce. The session is practical encouraging active participation in the joy of making authentic Italian pasta dishes. After lunch we cross the bridge over the Magra towards the border of Tuscany. Here we visit ancient Luni, established as a Roman colony in 177 BC where it thrived (especially in the 2nd century as a marble port) until the 13th century. Today visitors can still see remnants that reveal that this was once a classic Roman town that Barbarian invaders once mistaken for the capital itself (Rome). We continue on to the hillside hamlet of Castelnuovo Magra, where we visit an extraordinary wine shop, extraordinary in that it keeps all the wines produced in the region. We conclude the day by dinning out in a gastronomic restaurant in Sarzana, a town that sits on the lower Magra that was once an important outpost of the Genovese republic.
Day 6 Montemarcello Magra Park Walk The natural environment of Il Parco naturale regionale di Montemarcello Magra makes for some of the very best walking to be experienced in this region. Our walk departs from our peaceful accommodation site to the nearby trails of Montemarcello Magra Park. We follow the scenic trails that lead towards the colourful fishing hamlet of Tellaro and delightful seaside town of Lerici. This is the famed Gulf of Poets which despite its reputation of seductive enchantment and beauty offers some of the most unspoiled coastline on the whole of the Riviera. Typical of this region, the network of walking paths are a legacy of the small rural communities that built properties to farm on very steep terrain and required assess into nearby towns and surrounding countryside. As a result of their determination nature walkers are blessed with well-preserved trails that take you into the definite way of traditional Italian life and, along the way, providing the most beautiful of vistas. Montemarcello Magra Park Walk - The walk is undulating with some steep ascents and descents but very achievable if accustomed to undulating walks. It is paced comfortably over 5-6 hours allowing time to explore and immerse in the villages and surrounds.
Day 7 Ligurian Cooking and Food Shopping Italian Style Today we prepare a traditional Ligurian meal and participate in food shopping in the typical Italian way of visiting specialty shops. Our lesson in Ligurian cooking commences in the morning following breakfast. We are taught how to prepare and cook fish Ligurian style. As Liguria is almost exclusively a coastal region the Ligurians are great seafood lovers. In fact you will soon understand why Ligurian cuisine is considered one of the healthiest of all Italian cuisines. After lunch we visit a specialty food shops in Sarzana where we experience firsthand why Italians love specialist shops when it comes to buying food especially local produce. We conclude the day by dinning in Montemarcello, a colourful village set in the most tranquil of surrounds. The village rectangular street plan reflects its Roman origins.
Day 8 Cooking the Lunigiana way and Departure Our final morning of the tour we participate in a cooking session that focuses on the best recipes of the Lunigiana. This is the nearby hinterland that separates Liguria from Tuscany. The food we prepare this morning will be reflective of the seasonal produce of the rugged Lunigiana surrounds. After lunch we provide departure transfer to La Spezia station.
