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- Riomaggiore village street, boats and colorful houses in Five lands, Cinque Terre National Park, Liguria Italy Europe.
Wonderland Cinque Terre Tour
(Private Tour From: Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Massa Carrara)
- 12 Hours
- Easy
- Private
Overview
Cinque Terre is one of the most popular day trip from Florence or Pisa. The Cinque Terre, “five towns”, is a string of five fishing villages perched high on the Italian Riviera in the region Liguria, which until recently were linked only by mule tracks and accessible only by rail or water. The villages are noted for its beauty. Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces to cultivate grapes and olives on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the Mediterranean Sea. The breathtaking views of harbours far below the wild but hospitable coastline along with the medieval fortresses and plentiful vines and colours.
The “Cinque Terre” Parks now is Unesco Heritage Site, is an exceptional places for unforgettable experience.
- Our english speaking driver – escort will pick you up at your location (hotel or apartment) around 8.00 AM with confortable Minivan car.
- We will drive through the A11 / A12 highway between Tuscany and Liguria for about 1h and 40 minutes, passing near the beautiful Apuan Alps, (the Marble Mountains) where Michelangelo acquired the marble for his statue of David.
- Then we will pass through the city of La Spezia and its romantic Gulf (Gulf of Poets), until we’ll get to Riomaggiore.
- We will visit Riomaggiore (the first village of the “Cinque Terre”) and we will move to the others with the typical local train (the fastes way through the mountains):
- Stop at Manarola
- Stop at Vernazza
- Stop at Monterosso. In Monterosso there will be our driver waiting for you for the return to Florence.
- The return is scheduled for 8.00 pm.
Important note: it is possible to book the same tour with the small local ferry instead of the train, when the weather and the sea conditions are good.
Take a look at What to expect.
What's Included
- WiFi on board
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Private transportation
- Park ticket - Boat or Train Ticket for: Riomaggiore / Manarola / Vernazza / Monterooso
- Bottled water
Please Note
- Pick up at your Hotel or private flat and B&B with confortable Mercedes Minivan or similar. Welcome sign PEK TUSCANY IN LIMO + your name.
- English speaking driver – guide.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We can also pick up and drop off customers at private addresses, apartments or B & B, without extra charge. It is only necessary to indicate the correct address in the notes.
What To Expect: Itinerary
Pass By: Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane
Our english speaking driver – escort will pick you up at your location (hotel or apartment) around 8.00 AM.
- We will drive you along the highway A11/A12, where we will see (on our right) the marble mountains of the Apuan Alps, where the Renaissance artists found the marble for their masterpieces: Michelangelo, Giambologna, Canova.
We will pass through the Gulf of Poets, and the city of La Spezia, up to the Cinque Terre park.
Stop At: Riomaggiore
First stop at Riomaggiore:
- Riomaggiore is a charming village perched on a terraced hillside high above the Ligurian coast. Known for its colorful stone houses that seem stacked on top of one another, and its harbor filled with traditional fishing boats, Riomaggiore is part of the string of five villages that make up the Cinque Terre, a UNESCO Heritage Site. The village was originally founded in the 8th century by Greek refugees anxious to take advantage of the naturally rich soil and plentiful sea life surrounding it. The Riomaggiore that we see today, however, actually dates back to the 13th century. It sits in a valley between two steep hills and was named for the stream, Rivus Major, that flows beneath it. Once under the rule of the Republic of Genoa, Riomaggiore relied heavily on producing wine and olive oil from the surrounding vineyards and orchards. Today its main industry is tourism, with more than two million visitors coming to the town each year.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Manarola
Manarola is the second-smallest of the five towns of the Cinque Terre, and the second town (after Riomaggiore) that you’ll encounter if you’re coming up the coast from the south.
- The colorful houses of Manarola seem to tumble down to its small harbor on the bright blue Ligurian Sea, making it one of the most photographed of the Cinque Terre’s picturesque villages. Likely founded by the Romans, Manarola was built along a freshwater creek—its name is thought to refer to an ancient, large waterwheel (magna rota in Latin), a reproduction of which stands in the town. The current town dates to the 1300s, making it arguably the oldest of the Cinque Terre towns. Once part of the powerful Republic of Genoa, Manarola was once home to a castle and watchtower built to protect against marauding pirates. Historically and today, Manarola is known for Sciacchetrà, a sweet, highly-coveted dessert wine.
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Corniglia
Corniglia is located in the middle of the Cinque Terre and lays on a small cape, 100 meters above the sea. It is the only town without access from the sea.
- Corniglia is an ancient Roman village that has a long and rich agricultural tradition. The village is surrounded on three sides by vineyards and terraces. Its architecture is closer to that of a rural inland village than that of a coastal village. To get to the village you need to climb 377 steps.
Stop At: Vernazza
Vernazza is probably the most famous and known of the Cinque Terre, with its picturesque harbor and the different colors of the houses that contrast with the blue of the sea. It’s the second-most northerly town of the Cinque Terre — the five fishing villages recognized by UNESCO as a living, cultural landscape of extraordinary value.
- Vernazza has been inhabited since at least 1080 A.D., though its origins may be much older. Once the site of a maritime military base, the town became a powerful ally to the Republic of Genoa in the Middle Ages — its fortified castle and cylindrical tower served as a lookout for approaching marauders. Its prominence declined in the 16th and 17th centuries, but the town was ultimately rescued from stagnation by the construction of the Genoa-La Spezia railway line in 1864. Today, Vernazza subsists on tourism, fishing, wine, and olive oil production.
- (We suggest lunch here).
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso is the largest of the five coastal villages of Cinque Terre.
- The village is located on hills cultivated with lemons, vines and olives. Its amazing beaches, its beautiful reefs and the sea’s crystal clear waters make this small village one of the most beautifull of this area. These two halves are connected by a tunnel used by pedestrians and the few cars that enter and exit the town. The oldest parts of Monterosso likely date to the 11th century. The ruins of a medieval fortress, including three former watchtowers built to spot invading pirates, still stand in the old town, or Borgo Antico. The new area, Fegina, dates from the late 19th and into the 20th century when the train line arrived in the Cinque Terre and brought these sleepy villages into the modern world. Today, apart from serving as a gateway to the Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare is known for having the only sandy beach in the area.
Here you will find our driver waiting for you ready for your return.
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane
The arrival to Florence is scheduled around 8.00 pm
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Please Note:
Inform us about any food allergies or intollerances you might have in advance during your booking procedure.
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