8.00 am – departure from Florence – meeting point: The front of Santa Maria Novella train station (same side as the taxi stand), just below the outside black and white clock of the station. Please meet at least 15 minutes before departure.
After departure from Florence, meet your local tour leader and settle in on the coach to enjoy the drive through beautiful countryside, passing famous Tuscan towns such as Lucca and Carrara on the way to Liguria, Tuscany's neighbour.
We first visit the Cinque Terre village of Manarola, where we enter the National Park to hike to Corniglia, a beautiful stretch that finishes with a climb of 382 steps. On the cliff top village of Corniglia a delicious local lunch is served in a restaurant with a perfect view of the sea and surrounding hillside.
After lunch, you continue along the steep, ancient path, climbing high up through spectacular terraces of olives towards the village of Vernazza, one of the prettiest and most characteristic of the towns, where you have free time to sit in one of the cheerful bars and cafés, or even have a cooling swim in the bay.
Continue the visit with a short train ride to Monterosso, the village renowned for its beautiful beach and artisan shops. Enjoy free time to taste the local wine, a refreshing swim in the Mediterranean or shopping.
A short train ride or a boat ride (weather permitting) takes us to Riomaggiore, and the beginning of the famous path of Via dell'Amore, “Lover's Lane,” a walkway hanging above the sea which takes you back to Manarola, completing your Cinque Terre visit before returning to Florence by coach.
8.30 pm – back in Florence
In case of unexpected closure of the paths for unforseen events, alternative routes will be taken instead.
