Pisa Trip Overview
Discover the wonderful Ligurian Riviera with an exclusive private tour.
The Cinque Terre and Portovenere, are considered the most beautiful coastal villages in Italy. The Cinque Terre, until 1990 were only fishing villages. Today they have become UNESCO protected sites, but until recently they were connected only by mule tracks and accessible only by rail or water and have preserved their ancient beauty
Itinerary:
• Our english speaking driver will pick you up at your hotel or apartment around 8.00 AM
• We’ll drive through the A11 highway between Tuscany & Liguria, passing near the Apuan Alps, the Marble Mountains.
• Then we’ll pass through the town of La Spezia and its famous Gulf (Gulf of Poets) ’til we get to Portovenere
• First stop at Portovenere for 1 hrs (visit of the Church, Castle and the City)
• Then we’ll move to Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza & Monterosso with the typical local train
• In Monterosso there will be our driver waiting for you for the return to your location
Additional Info
Duration: 10 hours
Starts: Pisa, Italy
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
Discover the wonderful Ligurian Riviera with an exclusive private tour.
The Cinque Terre and Portovenere, are considered the most beautiful coastal villages in Italy. The Cinque Terre, until 1990 were only fishing villages. Today they have become UNESCO protected sites, but until recently they were connected only by mule tracks and accessible only by rail or water and have preserved their ancient beauty
Itinerary:
• Our english speaking driver will pick you up at your hotel or apartment around 8.00 AM
• We’ll drive through the A11 highway between Tuscany & Liguria, passing near the Apuan Alps, the Marble Mountains.
• Then we’ll pass through the town of La Spezia and its famous Gulf (Gulf of Poets) ’til we get to Portovenere
• First stop at Portovenere for 1 hrs (visit of the Church, Castle and the City)
• Then we’ll move to Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza & Monterosso with the typical local train
• In Monterosso there will be our driver waiting for you for the return to your location
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane, Seravezza Italy
Our english speaking driver – escort will pick you up at your location (hotel or apartment) around 8.00 AM. We will drive you along the highway, where we will see (on our right) the Marble mountains of the Apuan Alps, where the Renaissance artists found the marble for their works like: Michelangelo, Giambologna, Canova.
We will pass through the Gulf of Poets, and the city of La Spezia, up to the Cinque Terre park.
Stop At: Porto Venere, Porto Venere, Italian Riviera, Liguria
First stop at Portovenere.
Portovenere is not part of the Cinque Terre, but is unique as its location, so strategic at the entrance of the Gulf of La Spezia. Portovenere, since its foundation in Roman times, has always succeeded for centuries in its naval and defensive vocation. Portovenere is also famous for its picturesque port lined with brightly colored houses and the Church of San Pietro, perched on the edge of the rocky promontory. Narrow medieval streets lead up the hill to the famous Castle located in front of the island of Palmaria. The main street is lined with typical local craft shops. Nearby is Byron’s Cave, in a rocky area that leads to the sea where the poet Byron swam and found inspiration.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Riomaggiore, Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera, Liguria
Second stop at Riomaggiore.
Riomaggiore is known for its colorful stone houses and its harbor filled with traditional fishing boats. Riomaggiore is part of the string of five villages that make up the Cinque Terre, a UNESCO Heritage Site. The village was originally founded in the 8th century by Greek refugees anxious to take advantage of the naturally rich soil and plentiful sea life surrounding it. The Riomaggiore that we see today, actually dates back to the 13th century. It sits in a valley between two steep hills and was named for the stream, Rivus Major, that flows beneath it. Riomaggiore relied heavily on producing wine and olive oil from the surrounding vineyards and orchards.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Manarola, Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera, Liguria
Stop at Manarola.
Manarola is the second village of the Cinque Terre (Five Lands).
Manarola is the second village of the Cinque Terre, built on a high rock 70 meters above sea level offer an incredible sea view. The colorful houses of Manarola seem to tumble down to its small harbor on the bright blue Ligurian Sea, making it one of the most photographed of the Cinque Terre’s picturesque villages. Founded by the Romans, Manarola was built along a freshwater creek; its name is thought to refer to an ancient, large waterwheel (magna rota in Latin), a reproduction of which stands in the town. The current town dates to the 1300s, making it arguably the oldest of the Cinque Terre towns. Once part of the powerful Republic of Genoa, Manarola was once home to a castle and watchtower built to protect against marauding pirates. Historically and today, Manarola is known for Sciacchetrà, a sweet dessert wine.
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Corniglia, Corniglia, Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera, Liguria
Stop at Corniglia (on request).
Corniglia is located in the middle of the Cinque Terre and lays on a small cape, 100 meters above the sea. It is the only town without access from the sea. Corniglia is an ancient Roman village that has a long and rich agricultural tradition. The village is surrounded on three sides by vineyards and terraces. Its architecture is closer to that of a rural inland village than that of a coastal village.
Stop At: Vernazza, Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera, Liguria
Stop at Vernazza.
Vernazza is probably the most famous and well known of the Cinque Terre, with its picturesque port and the different colors of the houses that contrast with the blue sea. Vernazza has been inhabited since at least 1080 A.D. Vernazza was home to a maritime military base, the city became a powerful ally of the Republic of Genoa in the Middle Ages and its fortified castle and cylindrical tower served as a lookout for approaching marauders. Its importance declined in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Today, Vernazza lives on tourism, fishing, wine and olive oil production. We suggest you have lunch here.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Monterosso al Mare, Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera, Liguria
Last stop at Monterosso al Mare.
Monterosso is the largest of the five coastal villages of the Cinque Terre. The village is located on hills cultivated with lemons, vines and olive trees. Its beautiful beaches, beautiful cliffs and crystal clear waters make this small village one of the most beautiful in this area. The city is divided into two parts: the old town and the new town, also called Fegina. These two halves are connected by a tunnel used by pedestrians and by the few cars entering and leaving the city. The oldest parts of Monterosso probably date back to the eleventh century. The ruins of a medieval fortress, including three former watchtowers built to spot pirates invaders, are still in the old town, or Borgo Antico. Monterosso al Mare is known for having the only sandy beach in the area.
In Monterosso, at the end of the visit, our escort driver will be waiting for you ready to return to Pisa or Florence.
Duration: 1 hour
