Overview
An amazing day exploring the five medieval fishing villages built into the spectacular rocky coast.
This is a delightful itinerary that goes through the Cinque Terre, where the sea, the hills, the vineyards, the old fishing villages, and the Genovese style-churches combine to produce breathtaking scenery.
This adventure takes you from Portovenere to the Cinque Terre (the Five Lands), located on the Poet's Gulf, so named for its many famous bards, from Dante to Bryon. Begin in Portovenere, a small natural paradise only 20 minutes by boat from the Cinque Terre. Enter the small historic center by the medieval walls and walk along the "Carrugio," which, in Genoese dialect, means "small street." Come to the ancient Castello Doria and the Bryon cave, named for the old poet-navigator who inspired Richard Wagner's compositions.
Next, you are on to the Cinque Terre, five small ancient fortified villages inaccessible until some decades ago when a road was built. A thousand years ago the towns were built into the rocks by ancient people in order to defend themselves from barbaric invasions. These ancient people found refuge between the sea and the mountains, completely isolating themselves from the rest of the world, living on agriculture and fishing. Today, they still preserve their ancient enchanting allure. There are no cars and no noise, only nature. Except for Monterosso, home to 1,000 people, the population of each town is less than 500.
The Cinque Terre are connected to one another by sea, by train, and by trails along the coast. Once in Manarola, you can take the boat again to reach Vernazza, passing by Corniglia. Arrive at Monterosso, the last stop, where you'll find your driver waiting for you. Throughout the tour, you can stop as long as you like--eat the best fish in the world, sample the wine produced on the hill that surrounds the villages, revel in the incredible color of the sea and the sky.
- The price of this tour includes a private vehicle and wonderful English-speaking driver for the day. It does not include any admissions, food, beverages, or gratuities.
- The price of this tour does not include ferry tickets. A boat tour (one way) is 27€ per person. The ticket allows you to visit all the Cinque Terre, one way. You can disembark the ferry at any village and re-board at the appointed time.
- Your English-speaking driver is able to give a general guideline and history of places and all major monuments while you are in the car. Being a native, he is very knowledgeable, and will be able to suggest the perfect itinerary to suit your needs.
- The exact itinerary of the tour may be adjusted.
- While this tour is available year round, Cinque Terre is best visited between April and October. From November through March, the ferry does not run and the weather is often cold/rainy. Many shops/restaurants are also closed during this time. - Please note: This tour is for hotel guests staying in the city of Florence only. If you are coming in on a cruise ship, please see our offerings in LIVORNO.
- Please note that on the first Sunday of each month many tourist sites in Italy have free admission. This can often result in long lines. If you are staying at a hotel, it may be beneficial to avoid booking a tour involving inside visits to major attractions on these days. If you have questions, contact ShoreTrips.
- It is not possible to visit the villages by car, as there is no road that directly connects them.
- In order to enjoy this tour, besides using our vehicle, it will also be necessary to use the train and/or boat services and, therefore, this itinerary is not suitable for people with limited mobility.
- The train runs year round, but the boat is subject to weather conditions.
Days offered: 7 days a week
Departures:- 09:00 AM, duration: 10 hours
