Walks & Food of the Italian Riviera

Begin your adventure in Chiavari, an elegant coastal town on the Italian Riviera with marble-paved arcades, a seaside promenade and an easy train connection to the Cinque Terre and Porto Venere. Around 6pm, say ciao to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Italian welcome by arranging a group dinner at the hotel. Want more time in Chiavari? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Depart Chiavari by train, travelling 35 minutes to the historic port city of Genoa. Here, we meet a local guide for a walking tour, which includes the Roman Catholic cathedral, magnificent palaces, alleys of the medieval centre, and panoramic views from the Belvedere terrace. Around midday, we head inside the Palazzi dei Rolli, a grand Genoa palace, for a hands-on pesto-cooking class. As part of the experience, we have an introduction to the elaborately frescoed halls of the property and the history of the family that owned it, before joining a chef to learn a traditional pesto recipe. We enjoy our creation with three types of focaccia, washed down by a glass of regional white wine. At the end of the cooking class, enjoy free time to explore before returning to Chiavari by train.

We’re back on the train this morning, riding three minutes to Lavagna. At the station, we meet our local walking guide and begin our hike in the Berissi Valley. Our easy-going route showcases the local scenery of slate quarries, dry stone walls, and olive oil producers; it’s a unique insight into what life would have been like before the modern development seen elsewhere, and a chance to reflect on what must be done to protect the area from development and urbanisation. To further elaborate on these issues, we meet the president of the Pietre Parlanti Association who, through her passion and ability to unite the residents and visitors, has succeeded in recovering more than 25mi (40km) of paths for walkers, some of which we’ve trod today. We have a packed lunch in a scenic spot, before returning to our hotel for some free time. At 5.30pm, join our guide for an orientation tour of Chiavari’s historic centre, in which we see the highlights of the town and enjoy a glass of wine, farinata (a chickpea crêpe) and/or snacks.

Today has been left free for you to explore the local region. We highly recommend taking the 50-minute train to the famous Cinque Terre, a string of five ancient fishing villages perched gloriously above the Italian Riviera. The rail journey takes you to Monterosso, the first of the five towns. Alternatively, you could take the train to other beautiful towns and villages, such as the fishing village of Camogli, the seaside resort of Santa Margherita Ligure or pastel-coloured Portofino with its high-end boutiques and seafood restaurants.

Transfer to the seaside town of Sestri Levante this morning, where we visit Azienda Vinicola Bisson. Known as the cellar of the abyss, this innovative wine producer pioneered an aging technique, in which they drop their bottles 195ft (60m) beneath the surface of the Ligurian Sea. It’s said the consistent temperature of 15C (59F) and gentle roll of the water provides a unique character and aroma to their wine. Learn all about this process on a guided tour, which takes in the winery and underground cellar and includes a tasting of two wines and snacks. After, we transfer to the restaurant, La Sciamadda dei Vinaccieri Ballerini, where we journey even deeper into the local cuisine, joining a chef tutor to master the art of making the Ligurian pasta corzetti and gnocchi using ancient recipes and original wooden moulds. Dinner will be our prepared pasta with two different sauces (Genoese pesto and a walnut sauce), served with a glass of wine and spoon of tiramisu. Full and full of newly acquired cooking skills, we return by train to Chiavari.

Today will be one to remember. We leave Chiavari in the morning and transfer (1hr 30min) by bus to the port town of Porto Venere. Here, we catch a boat to Palmaria island, which has just 50 residents, no cars and a pristine landscape. To explore the island, we enjoy a 4mi (6km) coastal walk, which, aside from showcasing the beauty of Palmaria, takes us past the ruins of military outposts and views of the Cinque Terre, plus we enjoy a packed lunch with more vistas. Finishing the walk, we return to the mainland for a guided tour of Porto Venere, after which you have free time to explore some more. Then, we return to our hotel for our farewell dinner, an excellent chance to relive some of our favourite moments from the adventure.

You’ve mastered regional recipes, sipped local wines and walked some of the finest trials in the Italian Riviera, but now’s the time for one final breakfast before starting your return journey home. Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.