Compare Cinque Terre, Carrara and Medieval Hill Towns by Road Scholar

Day 1 In Transit to Program In Flight

Day 2 Arrivals, Neighborhood Walk, Welcome Reception Lerici

Hotel check in 3:00 p.m.

After checking in to the hotel and getting your room assignment, take some time to freshen up. We will meet back in the hotel lobby at 4:00 p.m. for an introductory walk with our Group Leader in the neighborhood to identify ATMs, pharmacies, stores, restaurants, etc. Walking in and around the seaside town of Lerici, we’ll have spectacular views of the castle from the outside courtyard. Our short walk will circle back to the hotel where we will gather for a welcome drink.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day tomorrow.

At the restaurant in the lobby of the hotel.

Day 3 Orientation, Walk to San Terenzo, Welcome to Liguria Lerici

Walking 1 mile each way to San Terenzo along uneven sidewalk along the seafront.

Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. Included meals will feature regional cuisine. Water will be included with all meals. Transportation for program-related activities will be via motorcoach unless specified otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Next, we’ll set out on a walking field trip with our Group Leader in Lerici. Among the highlights we will see are the outer courtyard of the massive castle that dates from 1241. The castle is perched on a bay that is part of the Golfo della Spezia (Gulf of La Spezia), also known as the Golfo Poeti (Gulf of Poets) for the writers and poets who have found this a treasured spot for centuries, including Dante, Petrarch, Byron, and Shelley. We will enjoy beautiful views of the bay before returning to the hotel.

Returning to the hotel, we will be joined by a local expert who will give us an introduction to the region of Liguria, addressing its geography, history as a maritime power, role in the World War II resistance movement, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. From the UNESCO inscription: “The Ligurian coast between Cinque Terre and Portovenere is a cultural landscape of great scenic and cultural value. The layout and disposition of the small towns and the shaping of the surrounding landscape, overcoming the disadvantages of a steep, uneven terrain, encapsulate the continuous history of human settlement in this region over the past millennium.”

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At a restaurant along the seaside promenade in San Terenzo.

At a pizzeria on the waterfront in Lerici.

Day 4 Boat to Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare, Portovenere Lerici

Getting on/off a private boat; riding approximately 1 hour each way. Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day; stone pavement with inclines, unavoidable stairs, some with no handrail. Elective, challenging 3-mile hike from Monterosso to Vernazza, approximately 2.5 hours; dirt and gravel trail, uneven footpath with steep inclines (up to 920 feet overall), stone steps, no railings.

We will walk with our Group Leader from the hotel to the dock and board our private boat for the ride to Monterosso al Mare, marveling at the sight of the rocky coast and terraced vineyards of the Cinque Terre. In Monterosso, the northernmost village, a local expert will lead a walking field trip as we explore the beachfront and inner narrow streets lined with colorful houses and shops. An elective hike will be offered for those who wish to undertake a physical challenge. Those who elect to hike along the scenic park path between Monterosso and Vernazza will be accompanied by another local expert. Hiking the Cinque Terre Park trails can be fun if you know what to expect. Every step requires concentration for the uneven terrain and for the care needed while passing hikers moving in the opposite direction on the narrow trail. The trail has elevations up to 920 feet with many uneven steps — approximately 200 steps up/down — along dirt and gravel paths. There are no fountains or places to replenish water. Good hiking shoes, a water bottle, backpack, hat and walking sticks are highly recommended. Those who elect to hike this trail will rendezvous with the rest of the group in Vernazza. NOTE: In case of inclement weather or dangerous sea conditions, the Group Leader will make every effort to switch the date of the boating field trip.

We will regroup at a designated time and place to board the boat for Vernazza. We will have some independent time there to visit the small natural harbor/marina or climb the steps to the lookout tower. The town has one main road and a large square at the marina. You might like to explore the rocky fortress at the top of the town or relax at a café. Next, the entire group will board the boat to Lerici with a final stop in Portovenere. our local expert will lead our exploration as we stroll along the tightly stacked houses, colorful and tall, that were constructed in a row as an impenetrable fortress. We will have some independent time to visit the 12th-century chapel set on the promontory that juts out into the sea. The heart of Portovenere is closed to traffic and has a mix of art galleries, cafés, and more. We’ll then rendezvous at the dock at a designated time for the boat ride across the bay back to Lerici and return to our hotel.

At leisure. You might enjoy a walk along the seafront.

At the hotel.

On your own to have what you like in Monterosso. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There are numerous cafés, foccacerie, and trattorie.

At a waterfront restaurant in Lerici.

Day 5 Poets of the Gulf, Village of Tellaro Lerici

Getting on/off a public bus; riding about 2 miles, 1/4 hour. Walking up to 4 miles; paved country road (not a busy thoroughfare), no sidewalks, inclines, unavoidable steps, some with no handrail. Elective walk is along a 2.5 mile paved road with no sidewalks, but light traffic and pedestrian-friendly. The elective walk takes about an hour including stops to enjoy panoramic vistas of the sea below.

Our local expert will give us a presentation on English poets and writers who lived around the Gulf of La Spezia, and for whom the natural harbor is called the “Gulf of Poets.” After a short break we'll ride the public bus to Tellaro, a colorful village on the eastern end of the Gulf of La Spezia. Tellaro is designated as one of the “Borghi più belli d’Italia” — most beautiful villages in Italy. With our local expert we'll take a leisurely stroll along the narrow paved path that winds down to the marina and the small church dedicated to St. George. One of the local legends is that in 1660, a giant octopus saved the village from marauding Saracen pirates by ringing the church bell to warn the people. Our exploration of Tellaro will end up at our lunch venue.

With our Group Leader we will walk back to the hotel along the 2.5 mile paved road that connects Tellaro and Lerici. There are no sidewalks but the traffic is light and pedestrian-friendly. Those who prefer not to walk may ride the public bus with the local expert and meet back at the hotel. Later in the afternoon we’ll gather in the meeting room for a presentation by a local expert on culinary traditions of Liguria and Lunigiana.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At a local restaurant.

On your own.

Day 6 Lunigiana Agriturismo, Cooking Demonstration, Castle Lerici

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 61 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours total riding time; winding, hilly, country roads. Walking about 2 miles throughout the day; uneven sidewalks paved with cobblestones, unavoidable stairs from road to castle entrance.

We’ll gather in the hotel meeting room for a presentation by a local expert to learn about the traditions of booksellers and pilgrim routes in Lunigiana that date back to the Middle Ages and how they are still flourishing today. After a short break we’ll board a motorcoach and ride to an agriturismo in the Lunigiana hills amid the Tuscan-Emilian National Apennine Park. An agriturismo is an independently-owned farm that offers accommodations and meals as an adjunct to farming. Montagna Verde, a working organic farm, is set in 1,500 acres of reserve land at the foot of the Apennine Mountain range. Our hosts will welcome us and lead a cooking demonstration. We will then set out on a walking field trip in the medieval hamlet of Apella, where we will peek into a traditional chestnut-drying room. These typically consist of two levels in which the chestnuts above are dried slowly by chestnut wood burning below. The dried chestnuts are ground into flour used in many kinds of dishes.

We will reboard the motorcoach and ride to a hamlet once dominated by the Malaspina family. Its medieval castle that was a fortress is now a residence. The owner will lead our exploration. We’ll then ride back to Lerici.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At the agriturismo.

On your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Day 7 Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vineyard Walk, Wine Tasting Lerici

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 20 miles throughout the day, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 3 miles; steep inclines, uneven pavement, steps without handrails. From motorcoach drop-off point in Volastra, elective short walk; very narrow, uneven path to terraced vineyard; single file, no railings, bench available for anyone not electing to do the vineyard walk.

We’ll board a motorcoach with a local expert to explore more of the Cinque Terra, riding up into the hills above the Gulf of La Spezia to Riomaggiore, where we will explore the village. We’ll then board the train for Manarola, the second village of the Cinque Terre. We’ll set out on a walking field trip that will take us to the marina and around the promontory with excellent photo opportunities of the colorful village and terraced vineyards. Next, we’ll walk to the summit of the hill town of Manarola, reboard our motorcoach, and ride further up into terraced hills to the hamlet of Volastra. Our local expert will lead an elective walk in the vineyard where we will learn how the terraces were built centuries ago so that local people could make a living from the rocky mountainside.

Re-boarding the motorcoach, we’ll ride back to Lerici. The remainder of the afternoon will be free.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

A light lunch in the winery's tasting room.

On your own.

Day 8 Filetto, Pontremoli, Ancient Monoliths, Winery Lerici

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles throughout the day, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 3 miles; traffic-free center, uneven terrain, inclines paved with cobblestones, unavoidable steps including some without handrail. Elective walk about 2 miles, approximately 1 hour; uneven dirt path, steep incline.

We’ll board a motorcoach and ride to Filetto, near Villafranca. A local expert will lead our exploration of this walled hamlet. For those with stamina and a taste for adventure, our local expert will lead an elective trek along a section of the Via Francigena — the Pilgrim’s Path — that connects Canterbury in the UK to Rome. The footpath segment to Virgoletta/Bagnone is uneven with a steep hill to climb. The Group Leader will accompany those who prefer not to take the elective walk and ride to Bagnone in our coach. When the entire group is together again, we will ride Pontremoli, a medieval town in Lunigiana.

We will start our exploration of Pontremoli with a walking field trip in this traffic-free town. A local expert will provide historical background, apparent in its medieval bridges, baroque residences, and elegant coffee shops. Our walk will end at the edge of town with a stunning panorama of the surrounding countryside. There in Pontremoli, we will explore the 11th-century Castle of Piagnaro that houses the recently renovated Museum of Statue Stele, prehistoric monoliths of human figures found in the area. We will reboard the motorcoach and ride back to Lerici after our field trip.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At a characteristic trattoria in Pontremoli.

At a local restaurant.

Day 9 Life in Italy Today, Free Time, Winery Dinner Lerici

Getting on/off coach, riding 40 minutes. Walking up to 1 mile at the winery.

We will be joined by a local expert for a presentation on institutions and traditions that prevail in Italy today. Among the topics we’ll learn about are the education system, health care, and the role of the family, plus Q&A.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.

Returning to the hotel by coach, be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

On your own to have what you like.

We'll board a motorcoach for dinner at a local winery.

Day 10 Carrara Marble Quarries, Transfer to Pisa Pisa

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 63 miles throughout the day on steep, narrow, winding road, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 4 miles throughout the day; extended standing during field trips, dirt and loose stone path at quarry. Elective walk to/from hotel to Leaning Tower in Pisa 1 mile each way; city sidewalks, mostly flat, some uneven paving stones.

A local expert will give us a presentation on Michelangelo and Carrara marble. That great artist — who considered himself primarily a sculptor rather than a painter — traveled to the quarries of Carrara dozens of times during his lifetime to select the blocks of characteristic white marble he wanted. We will check out of the hotel, board a motorcoach, and ride to Carrara at the foot of the Apuan Alps. We’ll visit a sculptors’ workshop (work schedules permitting). With a local expert, we’ll ride on to the still active marble quarries and learn about the fascinating technique of modern stone excavation. In recent years, nearly a million tons of marble have been removed annually, resulting in a battle between environmentalists and companies that extract the stone.

A local expert will lead us on a walking field trip through Carrara’s main square where we will see historic as well as modern marble monuments. We’ll then reboard the motorcoach and ride to our hotel in Pisa for a late afternoon check-in.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel.

At a wine bar/restaurant in the heart of Carrara.

At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner and bid “arrivederci Italia!”

Day 11 Program Concludes In Flight

Hotel check out 11:00 a.m. See your program’s GETTING THERE information regarding transfers.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

At the hotel. For those with early morning departures, the hotel will prepare a bag breakfast to take away. This concludes our program.