Manarola, Cinque Terre

This walking tour in the Cinque Terre can be personalised to meet your interests and travel dates.

The Cinque Terre National Park embraces a stretch of Italy's most spectacular coast, to the east of the northern port of Genoa, where the sheer cliffs of the Appenine Mountains meet the waters of the Mediterranean. The dramatic coastline is scattered with small towns and fishing villages which are dug into cliffs and gullies, suspended high above tiny harbours packed with colourful fishing boats.

Inhabited since Roman times, the tranquillity of the picturesque villages contradicts their dangerous past. For centuries they were continually raided by pirates, including Corsairs (from nearby Corsica) and Saracens from North Africa. Several were even bombarded by British ships, hostile to the locals' Napoleonic sympathies.

This walking tour of the Cinque Terre follows stone paths that have linked the villages since the 15th century. They twist and wind along the rugged coast passing through pine forests and terraced vineyards, with breath-taking views out over the Mediterranean. All the villages are linked by trains and (during the warmer months) by ferries, which give the walker great flexibility. You’ll be dropped off at La Spezia railway station (on the Rome/Genoa line) at the end of the walk.

What's included in this walk?

• Six nights accommodation
• all breakfasts and dinners
• lunch recommendations
• reading lists and historical and cultural notes
• maps and detailed walking instructions
• daily transfers of baggage between hotels
• drop-off at the end of the tour from Portovenere to La Spezia station (on the Rome/Genoa line)
• 24 hour backup from local manager

How hard are the walks?

What's the accommodation like?

Tour Cost:

AUD $1,900 per person (single supplement $250) (approx US $ 1710, SS $225 - subject to daily exchange rates)

Vernazza, Cinque Terre	Fish markets, Cinque Terre
Portovenere Bay, Cinque Terre	Vernazza bakers
Houses, Riomaggiore	Portovenere, Cinque Terre
Vernazza houses	Approaching Portovenere

Cinque Terre Walking Itinerary

Day		The tour starts in Levanto, a charming coastal resort (on the main Genoa/Rome railway line).
Day		The first walk follows a superb coastal path, through woods and scented scrub with breathtaking views of the gulf and the five villages of Cinque Terre, following ancient paths along scrub-covered slopes and cliffs to the first of the villages. It follows a path that winds along above the coast to the ruins of an abandoned convent, before dipping down to the first Cinque Terre village. (7 kms, 3 hrs)
Day		Today’s walk, the Sentiero Azzuro, takes you along the celebrated path that links the five villages of the Cinque Terre. The walk weaves along cliffs and through terraces, offering spectacular views over the bay and the villages. It follows the coastal path to Vernazza, the second most picturesque and interesting of the five villages, where you’ll stay for the evening. (6kms, 2.5 hrs)
Day		You pick up the Sentiero Azzuro again and, passing through olive groves with ancient terraces climbing up the mountains that soar above you, passing through two more villages, before following the Via del Amore (the path of lurve) into Riomaggiore, the last of the five villages, where you’ll stay the night. (8 kms, 3 hrs)
Day		Today you walk above the eastern part of the gulf to Portovenere. This takes you up to a religious sanctuary, where they can have a rest and refreshment and enjoy the views before continuing up through forest to a small village, where they can have lunch. From here you descend through forest with breathtaking views over the sea into Portovenere. (14 kms, 5 hrs)
Day		The walk starts with a short boat across the narrow waterway that separates Portovenere from a fascinating island with a small fishing village, the remains of a monastery from the 11th century, as well as wonderful views of the sea and the Gulf of La Spezia. There is the possibility of lunch on the island, but it is probably nicer to take a picnic with you, the hotel will be able to help with this. Return to Portovenere. (12 kms, 3 hrs)
Day		Morning in Portovenere and then transfer thirty minutes drive away to La Spezia, a busy and colourful port, with a number of excellent museums, a picturesque harbour and colourful daily markets and regular rail connections to Rome, Florence and Milan.

For more information on this tour or to make a booking, please get in touch with us.