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CINQUE TERRE TOUR 23 May – 27 May 2012 The Cinque Terre has always captivated the traveller with its extraordinary rugged coastline and beauty. The five villages which make Cinque Terre: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are steeped with fascinating history and vibrant culture. They have been home to generations of simple fishermen and farmers who carefully built terraces on the steep mountainsides overlooking the sea to produce a stunningly beautiful garden landscape. We will explore all the five towns including the beautiful Porto Venere and Portofino. The tour also includes an interesting tour of the famous white marble mountains of Carrara and a special visit to Pisa and its iconic leaning tower. Detailed Itinerary Day 1 Florence (D) Your tour leaders Mario and Viny will meet you at the hotel in the centre of Florence at 4.00 PM when there will be introductions and a small talk on the tour. The tour leaders will then guide you on a walking tour of the historical centre of Florence. The walk will end with an early dinner in a traditional restaurant. Day 2 Florence/Carrara/ Monterosso al Mare (BLD) After breakfast we leave for Cinque Terre. On the way we make a stop for a special guided tour of the marble quarries at Carrara: famous for its white marble and the source of many of Michelangelo’s masterpieces. Lunch at the tiny village of Colonnata. Then we head to the spectacular Monterosso al Mare, the northernmost of the five villages which will be our stay for the next 3 nights. Dinner at a local restaurant. Day 3 Cinque Terre/Portovenere (BLD) Today we explore the entire coast of the Cinque Terre by catching a ferry from Monterosso to Portovenere where we will have lunch whilst looking out at the tranquil waters of the Golfo dei Poeti. On our return we will stop at the first of the five towns: Riomaggiore from which we will walk along the coast to Corniglia passing through the village of Manarola. A highlight of this 2 hour walk is the famous stretch called Sentiero dell’Amore (Lover’s Walk). We will also visit the quaint village of Vernazza before returning to Monterosso for Dinner. Day 4 Monterosso/Portofino (BLD) After breakfast we drive north along the Ligurian rugged coastline to Portofino where there is time to explore the shops and sights of this small but beautiful harbour. On the way back we make a stop at Santa Margherita. Free afternoon to wander through the streets of Monterosso before our final dinner in a local restaurant. Day 5 Monterosso/Pisa/Florence (BLD) We leave the Cinque Terre for Florence. On the way we make a special stop to one of Italy’s most famous landmarks: the Leaning Tower of Pisa which is one of several architecturally important structures in the the Piazza dei Miracoli. The Leaning Tower is the campanile, or bell tower, of the Cathedral. It is famous for its noticeable lean which has recently had a lot of work done to stop it from crashing to the ground. The Tower was built in 1173. In the afternoon we make our way back to Florence and we should arrive in the City by mid afternoon. The tour ends in Florence. Additional information The weather: it is last days of spring. It can get warm during the day however the evenings are cool. We recommend light, conformable clothing, a light jacket with your favourite walking shoes. The countryside is undulating and hilly. Many of the hill towns have their historical centres closed to traffic and therefore lots of walking is required. You should expect to stroll leisurely for up to an hour with many breaks for sightseeing, coffee and a taste of the local produce. The program appears to be full; however it is mixed with long restful lunches and leisure time for your enjoyment and comfort. If you need to, you can always take time off from the organised program. Download the Itinerary
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