| Cost From: | $3995 |
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| Length: | 7 days |
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| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Cultural Adventures |
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| Difficulty: |
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My friends are really getting tired of hearing about how wonderful it was!C. Duncan—Portland OR
Enjoy challenging hiking in an aery realm of grand glacial cirques, crystalline lakes, snow-capped summits, mighty waterfalls, and magnificent beech forests. Along the way we fuel our hikes with hearty mountain fare from cassoulet to Roquefort cheeses.
Our classic Tuscan getaway explores the Italy of Renaissance paintings, with hikes leading right from the gates of ancient hilltop villages and sumptuous picnics overlooking silvery olive groves, fields of brilliant red poppies, and ochre-tinted farmhouses framed by rows of dark green cypress. We discover the thoroughly medieval setting of San Gimignano, with its skyline of 12th century towers, and hike among the peaceful hill villages of the Garfagnana mountains. After exploring the entrancing walled town of Lucca, birthplace of Puccini, we head to the coast to hike the glorious Portofino headlands, where the mountains tumble to the azure sea. We enjoy the company of at least two Trip Leaders and an insider’s experience of this irresistible part of Italy.
Reading list, click here.
We gather in Florence then head into Chianti’s classic landscape of hilltop castles, stone farmhouses, wooded valleys, and olive groves. Our hike brings us through the prestigious vineyards that have made this region famous, and we enjoy lunch and wine tasting at a charming country inn. The next day, our hiking path frames the towers of San Gimignano as we make our way to the abandoned medieval village of Castelvecchio, with a picnic en route of wonderful Tuscan specialties. Overnights are in San Gimignano, whose 13th century Piazza della Cisterna is still the focal point of town life.
Just 20 miles from the Mediterranean is Lucca, a graceful Tuscan town of medieval streets with a swath of intact Renaissance walls. We enjoy a walking tour of this spectacular capital, then head into the mountainous Garfagnana region just outside Lucca, a perfect place to explore on foot, with ancient castles, alpine meadows, and rural settlements little changed in a century. We hike through woodlands to the peaceful hilltown of Barga and visit the town’s wonderful Duomo to see its famous Della Robbia ceramics. The Duomo crowns the hill on which Barga is built.
Leaving interior Tuscany, we discover the Riviera di Levante, with its cliffs and bays carpeted in aromatic pine and olive groves. We hike from the port town of Camogli along a coastal path to Punta Chiappa. We also visit stylish Portofino, famed for its idyllic setting in a small inlet surrounded by steep cypress groves, and hike the Portofino headlands, now a nature reserve encircled by cliffs and coves. Our base is the lovely harbor town of Santa Margherita. Depart on Day 7 via Pisa, or join our Cinque Terre Extension.
This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure
The Italian Riviera ends with a dramatic flourish at Cinque Terre, five cliff-bound villages wedged into a mountainous coast terraced with vineyards. Join our self-guided 4-day extension for in-depth hikes to spectacular seaside villages.
Please call us or Download Full Trip Brochure for more information
