Port of call: Portovenere
LUCCA & PISA FD - Full description
| CODE: SA01 | LUCCA & PISA FD |
| DURATION | 8 Hrs Approx |
| TRANSPORT | A/C DELUXE COACH |
| GUIDE | INCLUDED |
| ENTRANCE FEE | INCLUDED - Pisa: Cathedral & Baptistery |
| MEAL | INCLUDED - In the Tuscan country-side |
| NOTES | Comfortable shoes recommended. Lucca town centre is a pedestrian area. This tour is suitable for guests with walking difficulties or on a wheelchair, but they should be made aware that both the guided visit of Pisa and Lucca are conduced on foot. |
Relax during an hour's drive along the motorway through the breathtaking Tuscan countryside, accompanied by an escort, until the incredibly artistic town of Lucca is reached.
LUCCA
This town is known worldwide for its planning and construction: it is surrounded by the old fortification belt
that makes it retain its original medieval aspect.
Upon arrival passengers will be met by our valuable local guide and will begin their walking tour along the Medieval Bastions.
Hence reach the Basilica di San Frediano, of which there will be an internal visit.
The next stop will be at the Roman Amphitheatre, from where passengers will then be led to the Cathedral of San Martino. Inside this marvellous construction guests will have a chance to admire some wonderful paintings by Tintoretto and Ghirlandaio.
Thereof re-board the coaches and drive past Piazza San Michele, from where there will be a viewing of The Church of San Michele.
On completion of the visit of the medieval town, the tour will proceed to the Tuscan countryside, where guests will be served a typical lunch.After lunch the tour proceeds to Pisa town.
PISA
Upon arrival at Piazza dei Miracoli", or the Miracles Square, free time will be given for picture taking of the impressive Leaning Tower,
the octagonal Battistero and the local cathedral.
After this morning spent on a journey through some of Italy's most precious art, passengers will be driven back to Portovenere.
Port of call: Portovenere
CINQUE TERRE HD - Full description
| CODE: PV03 | CINQUE TERRE |
| DURATION | 4,5 Hrs Approx |
| TRANSPORT | DELUXE MINICOACH |
| GUIDE | INCLUDED |
| ENTRANCE FEE | / |
| MEAL | LOCAL TASTIES & WINE INCLUDED |
| NOTES |
Guests will be met by their guide at the landing pier in Portovenere and depart in a deluxe a/c coach.
The litoranea
The ride begins along the litoranea, a serpentine-like road, passing through small & picturesque villages such as Le Grazie & Fezzano,
leading to a panoramic spot, from where guests will be able to admire the lovely Gulf of La Spezia.
It will be noticed that this side of the bay is very much used as a military practicing area.
The Cinque Terre villages
he uphill drive will continue towards the opposite side of this stretch of land, to climb towards the first of the Cinque Terre villages:
Rio Maggiore. This small community is noted for its production of wine & grappa - a typical Italian spirit.
Inhabitants have taken advantage of the natural surroundings, by cultivating vineyards, although the land is steep,
creating staircase-like low-lying terraced strips of land, stretching uphill.
These terraced strips of land were very well thought up, in fact they are protected by the dry-stone walls built as banks,
which give the vines an optimal protection from winds and cold nights, thus allowing them to draw on the heat stored up during daytime by the sea stones.
The drive will proceed towards Corniglia, boasting a very panoramic view of the other four villages forming the Five Lands,
once called the Castles' Coastline. A photo stop will be made here.
Hence ride to Manarola, and stop at Groppo Village, where guests will leave their coaches and will be taken
to visit one of the local wine distilleries, to become acquainted with the methods adopted in the production,
with an enjoyable short video shown on a big-screen.
During the stop at Groppo, guests will relax over a glass of fine local wine accompanied by the traditional focaccia bread & typical local cheese.
La Spezia harbour
On completion of the tour through the five lands, sit back and relax on the comfortable a/c coaches while being driven to La Spezia harbour,
to have a look around this typical bay of medieval origins, which was the French maritime prefecture during the Napoleonic dominion.
Thereof guests will be driven back to Portovenere landing pier.
Port of call: Portovenere or La Spezia
MARBLE QUARRIES HD - Full description
| CODE: | |
| DURATION | 5 Hrs Approx |
| TRANSPORT | DELUXE COACH |
| GUIDE | INCLUDED |
| ENTRANCE FEE | INCLUDED |
| MEAL | |
| NOTES |
Passengers will be met by their guide at the landing pier in Portovenere and set off on a deluxe a/c coach to be driven towards the litoranea, the main road stretching along the coastline.
The litoranea is a serpentine-like road, passing through small & picturesque villages such as Le Grazie & Fezzano, leading to a panoramic spot, from where guests will be able to admire the lovely Gulf of la Spezia.
It will be noticed that this side of the bay is very much used as a military practicing area. Whilst the ride proceeds towards the inner motorway, our valuable guide will point out the beauty of the Apuan Alps which can be seen, from the coach, throughout the journey which leads to the village of Carrara, right in the heart of the "marble mountains". Here, guests will have a short stop for restoring and meeting a local specialist guide, with whom they will begin their adventure through this fantastic gift of nature.
Carrara is one of the most important and breathtaking natural sites of Italy, boasting imposing natural marble mountains all round. The technical methods adopted for the "cutting" of marble by the alpine craftsmen in this area are very well known world wide, in fact, whole blocks of marble are sent to carrara from all over the world for this purpose. This is an ancient tradition carrying its own secrets and techniques that have been passed on from generation to generation ever since the times of the "Roman Empire".
Passengers will be captivated by the adventurous uphill drive that will take them to a high spot from where, hold your breaths... There is a spectacular view of the marble-sewing areas, set amidst the mountains, which seem to be inaccessible, but in fact are approached by the local alpine craftsmen by specially designed carriages which run over a thick wire, right into the mountains. Here, guests will also be able to visit the local outdoor museum, exposing the tools used for marble sewing, of which the guide will explain the uses and the techniques accordingly.
On completion of the visit of the museum, guests will re-board their deluxe coaches to be driven to and through one of the most ancient marble grottoes, inside of which the feeling is absolutely unique: turn your heads in all directions to see only some of the finest and most valuable marble in the world.
Once through the Grotto, the coaches will proceed to the lower part of Carrara, where they will have a little free time to restore.
Hence guests will re-board their coaches and be driven towards the motorway, and back to Portovenere harbour.