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. Return to Sestri Levante for some relaxation before we top off 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 in the regional capital Genova for a walk and coffee in its historic center, a UNESCO Site dotted with small alleys and old buildings. Genova is one of the oldest ports in Italy (Venice is older), and in the Middle Ages it was one of the most important maritime republics and trading hubs in all Europe.

Then we continue to another of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy, Finalborgo, and visit its archeological museum. 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! 

Another highlight today is dinner 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.

Enjoy some downtime in Alassio and then join us to meet a farmer in the micro-climate of Albenga. Gentle winters contribute to the cornucopia of fruits and vegetables that smallholder growers and gardeners cultivate in this area and bring to market all the weeks of the year.

Later we visit Castelvecchio (one of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy). This handful of houses, particularly at night, may appear abandoned, but warm light emanating from a cozy window or two—along with the smells of dinner on the stove—promise that a seeming ghost town is still very much alive.

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.

On our way back to Alassio we stop by a local winery to learn about the native grapes grown here  during an informative visit and tasting with the owners. After this exciting day you deserve some rest. 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 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).

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! 

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).

Our day includes more explorations of the Ponente (eastern section of Liguria), and after lunch and some free time in our tranquil village, we continue to Imperia for a visit and tasting at an olive oil museum and historic producer of this noble nectar. Allow some time for a walk in this nice sea town and join us for a visit to an historic gelateria for a tasting and visit, 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. 

Catch our 1.5-hour group shuttle to Genova airport. If you have more time please join us on our two-night post-tour extension to the UNESCO Site of the Cinque Terre. Arrivederci (see you soon) on the next tour!

Minimum of 6 participants, maximum of 16, with a maximum guide-to-guest ratio of 1 to 8

DATES

(2 nights following Liguria Tour)
For more info, dates and availability please contact us.

TOUR PRICE 
Per person in double occupancy: from $890
(tour price will vary and contingent upon availability of cozy agriturismi and 3-star hotels or more elegant 4-star hotels)

Single Supplement: $170

In addition, we pledge to donate more than 1% of your trip price to food literacy and environmental non profit organizations

Your two-night extension begins with a transfer to the quaint village of Vernazza followed by check-in at your bed and breakfast. From here enjoy a visit and tasting to a local wine and extra virgin olive oil producer on your way to Monterosso along a path surrounded by vineyards and olive trees. 

Enjoy lunch here and some downtime before your return to Vernazza either by train or on foot. Your first evening here, why not practice your “food” Italian as dinner is on your own. If you would like, we are happy to make suggestions. One of the oldest villages of the Cinque Terre, Vernazza used to be a fortified town. In fact, remnants of the castle of the Doria family are still visible today. The name Vernazza derives from the local wine Vernaccia, which in turn comes from the Latin adjective “verna” meaning native. 

The following day enjoy an invigorating walk or hike in the National Park of the Cinque Terre and lunch in one of the other villages: Manarola, Corniglia or Riomaggiore. Should you wish, the train is also available but be sure not to miss out on the boat ride back to Vernazza for a stunning view of this UNESCO site from the sea. 

Traditional ways of life here are under threat of extinction, largely due to the immense and costly labor required to practice the ancient methods of terracing. Your final dinner tonight affords spectacular coastline views and a menu highlighting local fish and wines, a wonderful way to mark your time in the Cinque Terre. Know that your visit supports this exceptional landscape and helps to keep it alive!  

Catch our group transfer to Genova airport. Buon viaggio (have a good trip in Italian) and we hope to see you again on another tour!