Amber Road Tours

Tuscany-Liguria The Cinque Terre tour

9 days/8 nights

• Day 1

  Arrival at Florence airport, where you will be met by your tour manager and transferred to Lucca, the most beautiful city in northern Tuscany (see map) and home of composer Giacomo Puccini. You'll be staying at the Hotel Ilaria for 3 nights, located in the center of the historic district.

  Late afternoon free for your own explorations and shopping. Hotel bicycles are available for riding the 4 kilometer ramparts that encircle Lucca.

  At 7pm welcome meeting & aperitifs, followed by dinner at one of Lucca’s best restaurants, La Buca di Sant’Antonio.

• Day 2

  Lucca is rich in history – Roman origins, medieval and renaissance power and wealth. Our local guide will walk us through these eras, from Imperial times to the Lucca of the 1800’s, a century that began with the reign of Elisa Bonaparte. We’ll explore the massive walls and fortifications, the piazzas and palazzos of Lucca’s many transformations.

  In the afternoon we'll visit two lovely renaissance villas north of the city. This evening we'll take in a Puccini concert at the Church of San Giovanni.

• Day 3

  The Via Francigena was the medieval pilgrim and tourist route from northern Europe to Rome. This morning we'll walk 7 kilometers of it in the lovely hills above Lucca, through olive groves, vineyards and small hamlets. Mid-route we’ll stop for an olive oil tasting at a 17th century farmhouse. A refreshing lunch with local wines at a village café will follow. Late afternoon and evening free in Lucca.

• Day 4

  Carrara has been one of the world's most famous mining centers since the time of Julius Caesar and still produces 800,000 tons a year of the same white marble that was the source of many of Michelangelo’s most famous creations. This morning we'll have a fascinating guided tour of the quarries and a marble sculpture studio.

  The village of Colonnata, known for its unique production of lard, lies in the mountains high above Carrara and is where we'll sample the local fare.

  Then, the spectacular Cinque Terre – we’ll be staying in Monterosso al Mare, the northernmost of the five villages. The Cinque Terre coastline was inhabited in ancient times by the Ligurian tribes, then settled by Greeks, conquered by the Romans, then dominated by Byzantines, Longobards and finally the city -state of Genoa. This land of rural fishermen and farmers, once accessible only by sea and by mule paths, now comprises the Cinque Terre National Park where we'll spend our next three nights. The Porto Roca is a beautiful hotel perched on a cliff with flowered gardens and private beach. The rooms have balconies with spectacular views overlooking the Ligurian Sea.

• Day 5

  This morning we’ll ride the train back to the first village, Riomaggiore, and do an easy two hour walk along a cliff-side footpath. We'll pass through Manarola and terminate our walk in Corniglia where you'll certainly want to stop for lunch. After which you can return by local train or boat to Monterosso or continue your hike on to Vernazza (90 minutes). Your tour manager will be on hand to assist. The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy one of the most pleasing areas in all of Italy.

• Day 6

  After a short morning coach trip to Rapallo, we’ll board a ferry for scenic voyages to San Fruttuoso, Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure. At San Fruttuoso we’ll visit a most interesting 9th century abbey. In Portofino, you can admire the yachts in the beautiful harbor, climb to the castle, visit the gardens, walk to the lighthouse, or enjoy overpriced shopping. Santa Margherita is a lovely seaside resort, with garden villas and grand hotels. Evening free in Monterosso.

• Day 7

  Pisa was one of the four medieval powerhouse maritime republics, along with Genoa, Amalfi and Venice. They established trading posts and colonies throughout the Mediterranean. Pisans, being ruthless pirates, were widely feared and hated - giving rise to the expression, "better a death in the family than a Pisan at the door". After a raid on Saracen Palermo they returned home with enough booty to initiate the Square of Miracles, the most amazing architectural complex in the world. This morning we'll have a fantastic guided tour of the Duomo and Baptistery and finish with a climb up the famous Leaning Tower.

  Pistoia is an overlooked jewel of a town situated between Lucca and Florence. We’ll be lodging our last two nights in the olive covered hills just north of the city at Hotel Villa Cappugi.  Late afternoon we'll journey down to the historic district where you’ll have time on your own before a food and wine pairing dinner at Pistoia’s finest restaurant.

• Day 8

  This morning will find us in the historic district of fabulous Florence, where we’ll meet our local guide for the Michelangelo Sculptures Tour, which includes visits to the Accademia museum to see the incomparable David and the Bargello museum.

  You'll have ample time in the afternoon for your own explorations before returning to Pistoia for our hotel farewell dinner.

• Day 9

  Morning transfers to Florence airport and train station.