Genoa, Portofino & Cinque Terre

WELCOME TO GENOA

Welcome to ‘The Vertical City!’

Benvenuta! Welcome to Venice!

There will be a group transfer from either the Genoa Airport or the train station at 12:00 noon (for those continuing on with us from the preceding trip to Venice, Verona and Lake Garda).

For flight arrivals outside of this time frame (including delayed and missed flights), a €50 supplement will apply or can arrange transportation at your own expense.

Enjoy the afternoon to rest, unpack, or explore the nearby streets from our hotel in the city center.

Our local hosts and tour leaders, Roberta and Daniela, will welcome us with an evening aperitif, followed by a delightful dinner featuring Genoese specialties at a nearby restaurant.

Included: Airport Transfer, Aperitif, Welcome Dinner

GETTING TO KNOW GENOA & GOLD LEAF GILDING

On our first morning, we will be guided on a walking tour through the delightful confusion of winding alleys and medieval streets of this historic port town, exploring secret spots and the rich traditions of art and architecture, visiting old shops, historic palaces and churches along the way.

For lunch, we’ll indulge in the Genoese staple, Farinata, when we stop to dine on authentic, Liguarian cuisine at Sa’ Pesta, the oldest ‘osteria’ in the city.

The afternoon will be spent in the only remaining Gold Leaf Laboratory in existence in Genoa where Master craftsman, Pozzo Marco, will share his family expertise in the delicate art of gold leaf gilding and lead us through a workshop to create our own gold picture frames to take home!

The rest of the day will be yours to roam, relax, and discover the endless possibilities for a scrumptious evening meal.

Included: Breakfast, Walking Tour, Lunch, Gilding Workshop

ALL ABOARD! EXPLORING PORTOFINO & THE BAY BY BOAT

After breakfast, we’ll jump aboard a local train bound for the Golfo Paradiso, disembarking in the colorful fishing town of Camogli.

We’ll stroll along the promenade of this stunning setting along the Italian Riviera, admiring the unique houses and crystal bay waters, stopping for a cappuccino before we reach the harbor.

We’ll board a boat setting out for the cove of San Fruttuoso, taking our time to enjoy a slow, local lunch and an optional dip in the bay before arriving at our next stop - Portofino! From the boat, we’ll have incredible views of the Portofino Promontory stretching into the Ligurian Sea.

After docking in Portofino, we’ll explore the Piazzetta, the San Giorgio Church followed by free time to squeeze in a little shopping or for further exploration of the area.

We’ll return to Genoa where the rest of the night is yours to continue discovering all the city has to offer.

Included: Breakfast, Train Ticket, Boat Tour, Lunch

THE FLAVORS, HISTORY & VERTICAL LANDSCAPE OF GENOA

Ahhh! This morning you are free to explore the city at your own pace, relax, or simply enjoy the atmosphere. You can visit the nearby Palazzos, do a little shopping, savor fresh gelato, or simply enjoy the seaside air. 

In the afternoon we’ll find ourselves in a quieter part of town, high atop a hill, to admire the city from above. By way of the funicular, a fixed railway cable car, we’ll reach the charming, peaceful neighborhood, Castelletto. 

We will be guided through the Antica Farmacia Sant’Anna, an ancient pharmacy and herbal dispensary. Here, we will meet Frate Ezio, the Friar, and learn about the plant-based remedies produced at the pharmacy dating back to the 16th century.

A quick walk will bring us to the Spianata Castelletto to take in the breathtaking, panoramic views of the sea. From here, we’ll experience another exciting mode of transport and descend down to the city center using a liberty style lift

Next, we’ll enjoy an incredible cooking class where we’ll learn to make authentic Genovese pesto, using a traditional marble mortar and pestle. We'll savor the pesto together with focaccia and a glass of local wine. We'll then move to a different location for another lovely dinner together.

Included: Tour, Pesto Class + Glass of Wine, Dinner

GULF OF PARADISE

Destined for Sori, one of the smallest villages of the Golfo Paradiso, we’ll leave Genoa after breakfast.

In Sori, we’ll visit the Baroque Church of Santa Margherita and the oratory before Roberta brings us to her family home in the hills where her “Nonna Tina” will teach us how to prepare fresh pasta, identify different herbs, and combine both to make flavorful, stuffed pansotti. We’ll enjoy lunch together al fresco in their beautiful garden.

Fueled by our lunch of handmade pasta, we’ll then make our way to our hotel for the next few nights at an eco-friendly, family-run hotel in the scenic hills of Levanto. This small, Ligurian hamlet is surrounded by lush greenery and the sparkling sea.

The hotel offers a free shuttle service in the evening to bring you to and from the center of Levanto in the evening, should you choose to continue your explorations there or choose to treat yourself to dinner in one of the city’s wonderful restaurants.

Included: Breakfast, Pasta Class, Aperitif

CINQUE TERRE

This morning, we will explore the iconic, isolated seaside villages of Cinque Terre! We’ll walk the tangled, carless streets of Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Vernazza, soaking in the views of beautiful beaches, bustling centers, jagged cliffs, and colorful homes. In the early afternoon, we will make our way back to the hotel to enjoy some relaxation time.

In the evening, we’ll take a scenic train ride to Monterosso, another of the five Cinque Terre villages. There, we will enjoy a tasting of local wines at an “enoteca”, followed by dinner in the heart of Monterosso. This experience will offer a delightful introduction to the distinctive wines of the region, paired with local fish specialties.

Included: Breakfast, Wine Tasting, Dinner

CARRARA MARBLE QUARRY & STONE CARVING WORKSHOP

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll travel to the Tuscan border to visit the Carrara Marble Quarry. Recognized as the capital of marble extraction and production, this Quarry dates back more than 2,000 years to the Roman Times. We’ll witness the extraction process and will be educated on the social history of the stone before adventuring to the top of the 1000M quarry in rugged, all-terrain vehicles.

After a crisp glass of prosecco overlooking the quarry with panoramic views of the valley, we’ll descend back to the base for lunch followed by an exciting, hands-on attempt at marble carving led by a master stone carver. Each of us will be guided in turning this sacred stone into an artistic piece to take home.

Back at our lovely hotel in Levanto, the evening is yours to explore.

Included: Breakfast, Quarry Experience, Marble Carving, Lunch

A DAY OF MYSTERY

Our last full day together promises to be full of surprises! Will we spend it in a seaside village? In a big city? On a farm? In a garden or a cathedral? At a vineyard? On the water?

Will we travel by foot? By train, funicular, or trolley? By boat?

Will we learn a new craft? Enjoy a cooking class? Will we prepare our own lunch or enjoy a banquet fit for royalty?

What we can share about this day is that we will return to Levanto in the afternoon in order to have time to relax and prepare for the trip home the following day.

In the evening, we’ll dine al fresco at a fabulous local restaurant for our final meal together and reflect on the incredible sights, tastes and experiences we’ve shared.

Included: Breakfast, Surprise Activity!, Lunch, Dinner

ARRIVEDERCI

Today we begin our journey home. A group transfer to the Genoa airport will be provided, with approximate arrival around noon. Transfers to Milan are available for an additional charge. Please bear this in mind when scheduling your return flight. Otherwise, plan to arrange transportation to the airport at your own personal expense.

Included: Breakfast, Airport Transfer