Liguria, Undiscovered Villages

Our journey kicks off in the quaint town of Sestri Levante near the Cinque Terre. For two days  we’ll enjoy this unique corner of Liguria starting with a walk by the sea and inland with great coastal views and plenty of opportunities to learn about the indigenous vegetation called Macchia Mediterranea (a kind of different varieties of evergreen shrubs).

Famous writers, philosophers, artists and affluent wanderers all traditionally traveled to Liguria to recuperate from various ailments. The air and sea breeze here truly are healing. And with such dramatic cliff- and mountain-scapes in the interior, the region has not become overrun by major road and infrastructure congestion.

Geographically accordingly, the region has two regional cuisines—for its coast and its interior. The latter is more traditional, given the amount of time that Ligurians of yore spent in the hills, hiding from invaders and malevolent seafaring groups. Our first dinner together is in a typical restaurant offering a wide array of coastal Ligurian recipes featuring seasonal ingredients skillfully combined by the local chef. Tonight perhaps, and certainly on this tour, you will also sample some of the local Slow Food Presidia, projects supporting food at risk of extinction, among the initiatives organized by Slow Food, a non-profit organization founded in Piedmont, Italy in 1986 that promotes “good, clean and fair food” (the motto of Slow Food International). 

We head to the elegant sea town of Santa Margherita for a scenic boat ride en route to the must-see village of Portofino, located in a pristine Regional Park and offering  breathtaking views of the coastline from a promontory jutting out into the sea. 

Continue to explore this corner of paradise on an optional 1-hour hike back to Santa Margherita by the sea and enjoy lunch on own in this elegant town. Return to Sestri Levante for some relaxation before we top our day with a visit inland to Varese Ligure, one of the Borghi piú Belli d’Italia (Most Beautiful Villages of Italy).

This is a project that promotes the great heritage of history, art, culture, environment and traditions found in small Italian towns off the beaten path. In Varese Ligure we also visit the famous local pasta stamps maker, right before dinner in a restaurant listed in the guidebook Slow Food Locande d’Italia, which features eateries that emphasize local flavor, character and sustainability.

En route to another elegant seaside town, Alassio, we stop by another of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy, Finalborgo, and visit its archeological museum. Enjoy lunch on your own and explore the area on another ~1-hour optional hike up to the ruins of a medieval castle on an ancient Roman road.

Finally we reach Alassio and it’s time to enjoy some relaxation by the sea or start to explore this charming town. For sure, we sample the famous local pastries Baci di Alassio (bite-size sweets made with ground hazelnuts, egg whites, sugar, cream, and cocoa powder) in an elegant café, accompanied by our local guide Andrea Marchesini who was born here and is very proud to show us his beloved home turf! 

As the sun sets join us for a tasting and visit at a producer of some typical Ligurian street food such as focaccia (a kind of soft & crunchy oven-baked flat bread) or farinata (a kind of crepe made with chickpea flour, water and EVOO).

Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant featuring some ingredients of the local version of the Mediterranean diet such as lemons, olive oil, pesto (a fabulous concoction made with basil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, coarse salt and olive oil ground in a mortar and used to dress pasta), seafood, unique cheeses, and an array of veggies, herbs and fruits that grow here all year round.

After breakfast, we set off for a scenic drive in the hills near Alassio for an olive oil tasting and visit at the Cooperativa Olivicola Arnasco, an association founded in 1984 to rescue the local olive oil industry and slow the migration of farmers out of the area. The museum here displays traditional tools once used for cultivation, harvesting and milling. We’ll also learn about the local dry-stack stone walls to make hills available for agriculture. Then continue for a visit at the Rainer Kriester Sculpture Park, exhibiting more than 35 pieces by the German artist who lived and worked here. His pieces are crafted from stone taken from Finale Ligure (a seaside town 20 miles east of Alassio).

Another highlight today is a picnic lunch followed by a visit to a multi-generational family owned biodynamic vineyard and winery in Bastia d’Albenga. We meet the family and hear their stories on wine and local production of aromatic herbs over a delicious tasting at an agriturismo featuring typical Ligurian recipes. In Italy, the term agriturismo indicates a family-run “farm stay” combining agriculture and tourism. Typically, agriturismi feature room and board in a farmhouse, which has been partially or totally transformed to provide accommodation and, in our case, also meals.

Enjoy lunch with more Slow Food Presidia, and visit an agriturismo featuring typical Ligurian recipes. In Italy, the term agriturismo indicates a family-run “farm stay” combining agriculture and tourism. Typically, agriturismi feature room and board in a farmhouse, which has been partially or totally transformed to provide accommodation and, in our case, also meals.

Return to the hotel for relaxation at the hotel, in town or on the beach after this exciting day. Tonight dinner is on your own and we are more than happy to give you suggestions or feel free to enjoy a local aperitif for a lighter meal and more unforgettable sea views.

Start your day with an exhilarating optional 2-hour hike offering coastal and Alps views en route to Laigueglia, another of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy. Allow some time to explore this quaint sea town over a delectable lunch or simply indulging in some gelato or a slice of focaccia.

En route to Borgomaro today we stop by Cervo (yet another one of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy) for a visit to this not-to-be-missed  town perched on top of a hill overlooking the sea and still featuring ramparts and boundary walls dating back to the 16th Century.

Liguria as we know is comprised of the costiera (coast) and entroterra (interior). The entroterra is our focus for the next two days, staying in the village of Borgomaro. Here, our accommodation is an albergo diffuso (widespread hotel in English), which consists of a hotel that is not in a single block, but converted out of various historic buildings in a small community. This will give us the opportunity to savor life away from the hustle and bustle of the sea (above all in the summer) and celebrate our journey in an undiscovered area of Italy, during our impossible-to-forget dinner together in an agriturismo! 

As you can see by now, Liguria is ideal for hikers (and for cyclists as well).  Ancient footpaths were the principal mode of transportation back in the day. And local laws continue to protect these picturesque routes featured today on our 2-hour hike (optional).

Then we continue to Imperia for a visit at an olive oil museum and lunch on your own. Allow some time for a walk in this nice sea town and join us for a visit to an historic gelateria for a tasting, to learn how just a few ingredients can create an exquisitely yummy result!

Our final dinner in a typical restaurant commemorates our journey into an undiscovered area of Italy, while sharing more food and stories of our unforgettable trip. 

At 8:30am catch our 1.5-hour group shuttle to Genova airport. Arrivederci (see you soon) on the next tour!