October 10
- Genova-Nervi
We meet at the Pisa airport for the short transfer to
Genova-Nervi where we will assembly bikes or you can take a trip
into Genova to see the sights. If you are continuing to the
Cinque Terre from our Tuscany tour, we'll transfer you, your
bikes and luggage to our start hotel in Genova-Nervi.
October 11
- Portofino - 36mi, 3500ft –or- 20mi, 1000ft
Portofino
can be reached by sea, on foot over the mountain or by bike thru
Santa Margherita. The climbers route ascends from the sea to a
ridgeline route that offers breathtaking views of the Ligurian
hills and the Maritime Alps across the water where Italy and
France meet. The 3000’ climb is rewarded with a wonderful
descent into Recco where we’ll sample a very special focaccia.
Recco’s focaccia col formaggio is made up of two fine layers of
pastry oozing the melting cheese - stracchino from the Stura
Valley produced by mountain cattle. A short ride to the
beautiful harbor
of Camogli for gelato and a mid-day espresso is a must before
climbing over the shoulder of the Portofino peninsula to Santa
Margherita and on to Portofino. The shorter route follows the shoreline where beautiful
views of red tiled roofs and white buildings dominate our
panoramas. Either route affords ample time to explore the Park of
Portofino
between the Golfo Paradiso and the Golfo del Tigullio. A
protected area since the 1930’s, the Regional park of Portofino,
is an area of great natural interest, sea, rocks and vegetation
merge perfectly to create unforgettable scenery. Or for those
interested it is possible to walk from Camogli over the
peninsula to Portofino.
October 12
- Framura - 72km,1470m –or- 55km, 700m
We retrace our route to Santa Margherita then on to Rapallo,
famous for weaving fine silk and handmade lace. A visit to the
museum of lace-making in Rapallo
offers a fascinating, in-depth display of work from the Zenaro
company where entire generations of lace workers were trained.
From Rapallo we climb inland to San Maurizio di Monti, then
descend along the Lazagnia river. An all too brief cruise
downstream, we then climb up to Leivi before descending back to
the sea. From Chiavari it’s a short seaside ride into the
beautiful town of Sestri Levante where lunch overlooking the
Silence Cove is the perfect finish to our morning adventures.
The climb from Sestri Levante to the Passo del Bracco takes us
over another ridge line before descending to our hillside refuge
near Framura. We’ve chosen a quiet setting for dinner
overlooking the vineyards that produce the fine wine of Framura.
October 13-
Monterossa - 38km, 650m –or- 56km, 1300m
Today
we enter the Cinque Terre, the Five Lands, isolated from the
outside world until about one hundred years ago, when the
railway line was built. To our delight the villages and the
characteristic Ligurian culture are conserved virtually
unchanged. Monterosso has the best beaches of the Cinque Terre
villages and the most wine shops, artisan shops, hotels and
restaurants. The village is divided into two parts from San
Cristoforo hill and the old part of the village, protected by a
rock spur, still presents the maritime village. We suggest a
visit to the church
of Capuchin Father, from which one can admire a wonderful
panorama of the village and the promontories which enclose the
Cinque Terre. The church has a painting of the Cambiaso and a
"Crucifixion" attributed to Van Dyck.
October 14
- Monterossa - Active rest-day--riding, hiking, swimming,
diving, train rides or boat rides.
Here are some highlights for today’s exploration…
Village
of Vernazza
Vernazza has a natural pier with
an amphitheatre shape making it perhaps the most picturesque
village of the Cinque Terre. Vernazza was a Roman installation
and had a significant strategical importance during the age of
the Maritime Republics in Genoa. It was also famous for its
carpenters. We suggest a walk in the village that is dominated
by a watch tower and the "Castello" remains. In the small
square, overlooking the seaside, there is the church of Santa
Margherita di Antiochia.
Village of Corniglia
Placed on a steep
promontory, with two exclusive small beaches at its sides,
Corniglia can be reached from the railway through a long flight
of steps leading to the village (an elevator is being built).
One suggestion is a visit to the Church of San Pietro (1334),
which is considered one of the most significant monuments in the
gothic-ligurian style of the Cinque Terre and a view the
Belvedere, an enchanting terrace on the seaside.
Village of Manarola
The village of Manarola is
surrounded by vines and is situated along a stream. The wine of
Manarola is very famous and the "Via dell’ Amore" starts here:
an easy to walk, paved path a distance of two kilometres,
connecting Manarola to Riomaggiore. In the upper side of the
village, don't miss the church of San Lorenzo (1338) with its
beautiful rose window dating back to the 14th century.
Village of Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore, which
is the most eastern and the nearest village to La Spezia
(connected by a scenic road), is named after the stream crossing
it. It’s interesting to see the seashore and the upper side of
San Giovanni Battista, with its two wonderful twin doors made of
marble, which are placed in its southern side and which date
before the church itself. Above the village, the Sanctuary of
"Madonna di Montenero" stands out, built on the homonymous
promontory and which is the last of the gulf the Cinque Terre.
The Tramonti area, which goes from Portovenere to Riomaggiore,
has been made into National Park of Five Lands.
After a stroll
on the Via dell’Amore (Lovers’ Way) between Manarola and
Riomaggiore, dinner on your own is a must. Regular train
connections between the villages make it possible to wine and
dine at your personal favorite village. So, enjoy a beautiful
sunset and a wonderful meal befitting the five lands of
romance.
October 15
– Portovenere 32km, 500m
Today we traverse high above the five villages of
the Cinque Terre as we cycle to the Roman era port town of
Portovenere. Utilized in the 11th
century by the maritime republic of Genoa as a defensive
stronghold during the long Genoa/Pisa war (1119-1290),
Portovenere developed the “fortress-houses” on the seafront that
we see today. The commune of Porto Venere includes the villages
of Le Grazie and Fezzano.
The place name Le Grazie derives from the Monestery of Nostra
Signora dell Grazie (Our Lady of Graces), founded by Olivetan
monks. In the 18th cenery on the Varignano
promontory the Republic of Genoa built a lazaret which was later
transformed into a military defence. The place name Fezzano was
first recorded in 105 and the layout is typical of Ligurian
maritime villages. With the Genoan occupation of Portovenere
and resumption of safety at sea, the inhabitants of Fezzano
established stable settlements on the seafront. By the early 18th
century Fezzano boasted a fleet of forty sailboats. Tonight
we’ll enjoy seafood specials on our own at any of the wonderful
restaurants in town. Be sure to try the Portovenere mussels
(grown just off shore) or the octopus that abounds because of
the high concentration of plankton in the waters offshore.
October 16-
Bocca di Magra 40km, 390m
The Golfo della Spezia serves as the backdrop for
our ride past the shipyards of la Spezia to the Poets Cove. We
retrace our route toward la Spezia where a visit to the Museum
of Naval Technology, the Public Gardens or the Piazza
Sant’Agostino is recommended. The Via del Prione is one of La
Spezia's
busiest streets, a pedestrian thoroughfare lined with shops,
where the young promenade on a Saturday afternoon. A short
climb to Pitelli yields a wondrous view of the Poets Cove as we
then descend to Lerici, where we can enjoy lunch in the shadows
of the poets – Percy Shelly, Lord Byron and DH Lawrence. The
climb from Lerici to Serra is rewarded with superb views of the
small villages that dot the coastline. The traverse to
Montemarcello brings us to a fork in the road; the left fork
takes us to Ameglia before descending to Fiumaretta, while the
right fork descends through the forest to Bocca di Magra before
cycling on to Fiumaretta. We’ll pack our bikes and relax by the
pool before our farewell dinner tonight.
October 17
- Departure
Van
transport is provided to the Pisa
airport.
COST:
$1460.00 per person, Double Occupancy.
$250.00 Single Room Supplement
INCLUDES
·3-4 star Hotel Accommodations Full breakfast daily (except arrival day)
·Four dinners
·Airport transfers from and to Pisa airport,
·Bike mechanic and van support with cellular phone,
·Ground transportation for all passengers, luggage & bikes,
·Regional map plus detailed daily route maps & cue sheets.
NOT INCLUDED
·International airfare
·Tips, gratuities, laundry, telephone, & personal items
·Lunches and alcoholic beverages other than wine with dinner
PRE-TRIP PLANNING
A complete trip packet will be sent upon receipt of your final payment, including tour t-shirt, hotel lists, maps, and luggage tags. Our guidebook containing
information on what to bring, how to pack your bike for flying, equipment list, and changing currencies, will be sent upon receipt of your secondary deposit (due by March 1). All participants must possess a current passport.
TRAVEL
INSURANCE
Erickson Cycle Tours strongly recommends purchasing insurance for trip cancellation, injury, illness, and loss of effects. A traveler's insurance brochure will be included in your confirmation letter.
AIRFARE
We offer the services of our
travel agent, Shannon or Steve of Rogue Travel, in obtaining
economical, expedient air reservations, and we can assist with
lodging for pre- and post-tour plans. For flight information,
contact Rogue Travel at 1.800.443.9216, or
shannon@mind.net. If you
prefer you may use the services of your own travel agent. |
