Charm of Cinque Terre & Artistry of Florence Tour

The villages of Cinque Terre cling to the steep cliffs of the Ligurian coastline that overlook the Mediterranean Sea. The turquoise water splashes against the rocks and the pastel colored homes stand out against the layered rocks. Your flight will land at Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa, and your private transfer will meet you at baggage claim. You will enjoy the ride along the scenic, winding road and past olive groves and lemon trees that open up to the seaside. The car will stop at the edge of Monterosso, the most northern of the Cinque Terre villages and the largest of the five villages.

A promenade lines the breadth of the pebbled beach as colorful umbrellas cast shade over the lounging beachgoers. The water splashes lazily at the shoreline as lush vines stretch across the terraced hillsides that border the town. The antiquity emanates from the pastel painted houses that line the cobblestone streets of Old Town as the aroma of freshly baked focaccia bread drifts from the bakeries and blends into the briny scent of the Mediterranean. A tunnel connects the maze-like lanes of the older district to the streets of the newer district, in which the homes stand out from the trees and ascend the hills. The Aurora Tower stand on a promontory at the edge of the beach guarding the coastline as it has since the 16th-century.

In the morning, the sunlight will glint against the early 20th-century statue built into the cliff at the northern end of the beach. The statue once depicted the great sea god Poseidon, complete with staff. Due to a history of rough seas, the Trident has fallen away, but the bulk of the statue remains set against the rock face and stands at a height of 46 feet. The art seamlessly blends into the landscape, and the landscape radiates like natural art.

After breakfast, you will step onto the scenic trail that connects the five towns alongside the coastline. Another trail connects the hamlet churches located at the top of the hills to offer a unique perspective of historical religious structures with views to the horizon. Mules carried supplies and merchandise between the secluded seaside villages and forged the traditional Blue Path. The trail ascends to a height of more than 650 feet above sea level and reaches a length of approximately seven miles from start to finish. You will pass Aurora Tower and wander beneath the trees of one of Italy’s most notable trails.

Olive branches dangle plump fruit alongside the lemon trees that bring a fragrant citrus aroma into the breeze. A selection of stairs winds upwards as the trees part for a spectacular view of Vernazza. The tower-houses overtake the horseshoe shaped cliffs and hover above the natural harbor. Locals and visitors alike sunbathe on the warm, smooth boulders that border the water as basil plants and vineyards grow on the terraced hills above town. Continue to the charming town of Corniglia, located atop a cliff at 328 feet above sea level. The town was settled during the Roman Empire and contains an incredible collection of stairs built into the rocky slopes.

Bakeries open their doors to the winding cobblestone lanes of Monterosso. The aroma of sweet baked brioche drifts out the doors and lingers in the air, blending with the aroma of brewing espresso. The thin black and white stripes of the Oratory of the Confraternita dei Neri highlight the 16th-century Baroque façade that shines in the spreading sunlight. In the morning, you will linger in the charms of Monterosso and enjoy the quiet ambiance of the beach as fishers return to shore and carry nets filled with anchovies and sea bass.

You will take the brief and scenic train ride to Vernazza to meet your private guide eager to lead you into the hills that overlook the enchanting town. The scent of the sea spreads across the terraced vineyards. The grapes are plump and juicy between your fingers as your guide invites you to interact with the foliage, and then purple and yellow wildflowers grow alongside the paths away from the vineyards. The olive orchards grow equally enviable produce in the refreshing breeze that sweeps upwards from the sea.

After exploring the gardens, orchards, and vineyards, your guide will lead you along the single main road of Vernazza to a winery at the edge of the natural harbor. The soaring dome of the more than 150-foot tall clock tower imitates the cliffs in both height and beauty. You will sit at an outdoor table to soak up the artistic majesty of the scenery. The water splashes against the harbor’s sea break, and you will enjoy a selection of pesto bruschetta, olives, and salamis to accompany your wine, the first glass of which shimmers a pale hay hue in the sunlight.

In the morning, the will sunlight spread across the Mediterranean as the water turns three shades of blue depending on the depth of the sea. Near the rugged shoreline, you can look down into the crystalline water and see the pebbles that line the seafloor. After breakfast, you will meet your skipper at the harbor and board a private yacht set for the villages of the Italian Riviera and the Gulf of Poets.

Your 40-foot yacht has a luxurious space below as the cushioned seats above and on deck offer a view of the scenic coastline.  The shores are filled with verdant chestnut, olive, and orange trees that grow above precipitous cliffs and radiant waters. Historical Italian poets Dante and Petrarch marveled at the natural beauty of the Gulf as English poets Byron and Shelley spoke of the natural enchantment cast by the cliffs and waters. Your boat will moor at Grotto Arpaia, also referred to as Byron’s Grotto where the Church of San Pietro stands above the precipice like a castle.

You will continue sailing to the village of Lerici. Steep slopes cluster around the harbor as the Castello San Giorgio crowns the hilltop beside the harbor to overlook the wading sailboats and bustling seafront. Cafes set their tables out along the promenade where the 15th-century Piazza Garibaldi boasts a Baroque church and the 13th-century Oratory of San Rocco. The aroma of delicate fresh pasta cooked with garlic emanates from a cellar restaurant hidden by the hills.

Today you take to the sea once more before mooring at the edge of Portofino National Park where the Abbey of San Fruttuoso rises out of a sliver of the beach at the base of a rocky ravine. The 16th-century Genoese tower peeks out of the lush trees on the hillside as a reminder of the former Republic’s prestige and the need to protect the coastline from pirates. A dome crowns the Romanesque tower of the Abbey, drawing your eye from the cellar arches at the base of the structure to the top of the slopes that are covered with Apennine forests and Mediterranean bushes. A mosaic of Saint Fruttuoso adorns the wall that guides the dock to the pebbled shoreline.

A trail leads from the sand to the top of the hills and offers a pristine view of the Bay of Tigullio and the Sestri Levante. In the distance, you can catch an outline of Corsica as the fragrant sea blends with the lively flora that is blossoming all around you. The trail continues into a forest of oak and holm trees and then opens to jagged promontories and olive groves. The trail curves downward to the town of Portofino where the colorful and vibrant lanes open to the boat-filled harbor. The pastel-painted homes imitate the colors of the fishing boats and yachts, and cafes serve espresso and café con latte on tables that peer out to the sea. On the outskirts of town, you will find the outline of the 16th-century castle, which offers the best point to look back down at Portofino for a perfect view.

In the morning, you will linger in the beauty of Monterosso one last time as you sit on the terrace of your hotel and bask in the bright lines of sunlight that are cast along the water. Enjoy the aromas fresh bread, sea salt, and the rich minerals from the soil on the terraces all at once as the sun streams over you. After breakfast, you will meet your private transfer at the edge of Monterosso and venture into Tuscany. You will stop at the famous historical cities of Lucca and Pisa before continuing to the enchanting gates of Casale Marittimo. The medieval village overtakes the Poggio al Bruno hill that overlooks the coastal plains as the grasses shimmer with green and gold strands.

Vineyards, olive trees, and cereal grow hardily across the hills and meadows, but the old gates and walls have left traces that surround the fortified medieval towns. A pillar from the 6th century BC marks the cylinder tombs of Etruscan settlers who once settled the area before the Roman’s overtook the region.  Take it all in before you continue to Florence where you will step into the hilltop church of San Miniato al Monte. In the evening, the monks perform Gregorian chants, and their prayers echo inside the medieval walls of the church. Outside of the church, you will enjoy a panorama of Florence as it glows in the evening light, a perfect first impression of a city known for its artistry.

The morning light will wash over the golden brick and medieval tower homes that border the Piazza della Signoria. Statues and sculptures decorate the Loggia dei Lanzi, a Gothic arcade built in the 14th century. Two lions flank the entrance, one an original from classical Greece and the other a 16th-century reproduction. The bronze figure of Perseus holding the head of Medusa stands at the center of the loggia surrounded by marble figures. After breakfast, your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby and escort you along the cobblestone streets of the city to reach the piazzetta, a long, rectangular forum surrounded on three sides by the Uffizi Gallery.

Statues of famous Florentines adorn the niches that encircle the open space. Through the pillars at the far side of the piazzetta, you can see the banks of the Arno River. The Uffizi was erected under the patronage of the Medici family in the 16th century to house the magistrate’s office but today the gallery exhibits collections of Tuscany’s brilliant artists that span nearly a millennium. Marble paves the entrance staircase and the halls on the second floor as large windows allow natural light to pour into the galleries and glint off of the gilded window frames.

The 15th-century Portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Urbino, as painted by Piero della Francesca, highlight the human attributes of the Renaissance as artists moved away from flattery and angelic features to concentrate on capturing the images as they appeared.  Once you have explored it all, your private chef will meet you later in the day and escort you to a traditional Tuscan kitchen. You will have a chance to learn about the regional cuisine, ingredients, and distinct flavors known to Florence and the surrounding countryside.

The blue and white façade of Sante Croce Basilica radiates color and prestige in the morning light, glinting as it crowns the eponymous square. The regal statue of Dante Alighieri stands beside the staircase that looks down on passersby. After breakfast, you will set out with a private guide to explore the artisan shop of the Oltrarno, the neighborhood on the left bank of the Arno River. The medieval district features narrow cobblestone streets flanked by active fountains adorned with stone lion heads.

Through the windows, you can watch artists craft leather belts and handbags. Along Via San Agostino, you will discover a jeweler tinkering at unique etchings of silver, gold, tin, and copper to combine traditional methods with modern trends. Another store on Via Toscanella restores gilded and painted antiques, and the shop owners will invite you into their shops where the aromas of azaleas and nutmeg fill the air. You will spend some time engaged in the work of the craftsman as he refurbishes a gilded picture frame.

The owner’s restoration is featured in museums throughout Florence, including in the Uffizi Gallery. After an active discovery of the continued, yet hidden artworks of the city, your guide will lead you to the Galleria dell’Accademia. The artist school opened in the 18th century and features collections of musical instruments and sculptures. Your guide will take you on a tour of Michelangelo’s evolution as a sculptor, encompassing the finished and unfinished works of the artist’s process before you enter into the Galleria del David. The statue stands 17 feet tall and balances the ferocity of battle with the tranquility before the storm.

The architectural icon of Florence’s Cathedral continues to enrapture visitors and locals. The red-tiled roof stands out against the marble and stone towers that rise above the city and the elegant dome crafted by Brunelleschi adorns the Cathedral at the height of 376 feet. The interior includes an immaculate fresco that depicts the Last Judgment, as painted by Frederico Zuccari in the 16th century. The artwork, architecture, and culture of Florence provide endless discoveries and hidden splendor. You can always stay in Florence longer to continue unraveling the thread of incredible artwork or discover the wonders of Tuscany with a deeper focus. When you are ready, your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Florence International Airport for your flight home.