We were born here in Tuscany, on this very land that our ancestors worked with care, the land that we step on every day, the land that supports and feeds us, the land that contains past, present and future. Our love for his land – for its nature, history and traditions – has become the essence of our daily actions, in life as in work.
Thus, several years ago we became licensed Nature Guides and we started to arrange walking and bicycling itineraries for individuals, families or groups in all of Tuscany. According to your preferences, we can customize your itineraries, from easy strolls to more challenging hikes, for just a few hours or for more days.
We think our profession is a beautiful way to share experiences and knowledge acquired day by day living and walking in these places. Should our paths cross one day, we would be happy to introduce you to this world. So that our land might become yours too. Come here and let’s go together for a while!
From the trip notes...
Liguria - The Eastern Riviera
HIKING TOUR
LIGURIA - THE EASTERN RIVIERA
2 - 8 JUNE 2013
Levanto - Cinque Terre National Park – Portofino Regional Park
This year we are offering a one week hiking tour in Liguria, in the charming “Riviera di Levante” (Eastern Coast). This irregular and steep coastline, where man and nature have acted together to shape a unique landscape, is full of paths connecting the ancient fishing villages. Through Mediterranean scrub and terraced slopes patiently built and maintained over the centuries, mainly cultivated with vines, olive trees and citrus fruits, we will experience both sea and mountains.
ACTIVITY: guided hiking tour in group
DIFFICULTY: from easy to moderate
DURATION: 7 walking days
LOCATION: Levanto
DATES 2013: 2 – 8 June
PRICE: € 490,00 per person
RESERVATIONS BY: Sunday , March 31, 2013
The price includes:
• Planning, organization and assistance;
• Bilingual Hiking Guide / Tour Leader every day;
• 6 picnic lunches (from day 2 to day 7);
• 7 dinners at selected restaurants;
• Inland transportation (train and boat);
• Entrance to the Cinque Terre National Park and the Abbey of San Fruttuoso.
We are not including overnight stay as the town of Levanto offers a variety of accommodation to suit the different needs. However, we remain available for advice and help in reservations (we recommend 7 nights, arrival on June 2nd and departure on June 9th).
Here are just a few ideas in order of price:
Camping: www.campingacquadolce.com
Cheap Apartments: www.levantur.com
2 star hotel: www.europalevanto.com
3 star hotel: www.nazionale.it
4 star hotel: www.parkhotelargento.com
As for dinner, instead, we thought it would be nicer to stay in group, so we picked and tested for you a different restaurant for each night, in order to let you enjoy and discover the famous Ligurian cuisine.
PROGRAM
Sunday, June 2: Levanto - Bonassola
Meeting in Levanto. Warm up walk through the town center, along the waterfront and across the headland that separates us from Bonassola, a small quaint village by the beach. Return on foot.
Distance: 7.5 km
Elevation: total ascent 210 m, total descent 210 m
Hiking time: 2h30.
Level: easy
Monday, June 3: Levanto - Monterosso - Vernazza
We start walking from Levanto to reach Punta Mesco, a promontory that marks the northern limit of the Cinque Terre, with the remains of the abbey of St. Anthony and the lighthouse. From that point, on clear days, you can enjoy a panorama that includes everything we will visit together in the rest of the week, from Portofino to Portovenere. We come then to the first of the Cinque Terre, Monterosso, with its promenade and the old town. In the afternoon we go to Vernazza along part of the famous trail that has linked the five villages for centuries, the only way of communication by land until the twentieth century. The trail goes through the terraces patiently built and maintained with miles of dry stone walls, where traditional crops such as grapes, olives and citrus trees still survive. We can visit the old town, the church of Santa Margherita, the Doria castle or just have a swim in the small beach. Return by train.
Distance: 12.5 km
Elevation: total ascent 840 m, total descent 840 m.
Hiking time: 5 h
Level: medium, because of some long stairways in the rock and the irregular terrain.
Tuesday, June 4: Moneglia - Riva Trigoso - Sestri Levante
We start with Moneglia, a popular tourist resort on the Riviera di Levante with its castle Monleone, the church of Santa Croce and especially its beautiful sandy beach. Our trail follows from a height of 300 meters the three promontories of Punta Moneglia, Punta Baffe and Punta Manara, of course with magnificent views. After a break on the beach of Riva Trigoso, we arrive to the beautiful center of Sestri Levante, a peninsula between the enchanting “Bay of the Syrens” and the “Bay of Silence”.
Distance: 17 km
Elevation: total ascent 1080 m, total descent 1080 m.
Hiking time: 6 h
Level: medium, due to the length and height differences.
Alternatively, you can stop walking in Riva Trigoso and continue to Sestri Levante by public transportation. In this case:
Distance: 11 km
Elevation: total ascent 600 m, total descent 600 m
Hiking time: 3h
Level: easy
Wednesday, June 5: Levanto - Madonna di Soviore - Madonna di Reggio - Vernazza
We walk along a part of the "High Trail of the Cinque Terre", the mountain path above the Cinque Terre (about 600 meters) also known as the way of the five sanctuaries dedicated to the Virgin Lady, each of them protecting the respective village below. Following this route we will pass by the religious sanctuary of Our Lady of Soviore and that of Our Lady of Reggio, and then down along the Way of the Cross to Vernazza.
Distance: 14 km
Elevation: total ascent 780 m, total descent 780 m
Hiking time: 6 h
Level: medium due to some steep climbs and descents, easy the rest.
Thursday, June 6: Camogli - San Fruttuoso - Portofino
A day in the "Golfo Paradiso" and the Regional Park of Portofino. From Camogli, a small fishing village with its church over the sea, we will begin our journey through the promontory to arrive first at the ancient Benedictine abbey of San Fruttuoso, enclosed in a small cove accessible only by boat or by our path. After visiting this extraordinary architectural work we will continue on foot to get to the other small but important bay that hosts the famous and elegant Portofino, where perhaps we will spot some VIPs arriving with their yacht!
Distance: 13 km
Elevation: total ascent 780 m, total descent 800 m
Hiking time: 5 h
Level: medium, due to the length and height differences.
Friday, June 7: Vernazza - Corniglia - Volastra - Manarola
We carry on our experience along the coast of the Cinque Terre, starting our walk from Vernazza to Corniglia, the only one of the five villages to be much above the sea level. Here we leave the coastal path and climb even higher to deserve the fantastic views from the terraced vineyards along the path that leads us to Volastra and his church. After that, we just have to go down to the pretty village of Manarola and from there, if you want, along the famous "Way of Love" that leads us to Riomaggiore, the last of the Cinque Terre. This latter part is certainly the most popular one because it is not difficult at all but allows us to enjoy close views of the sea and admire the variety of plants that colonize the rocks.
Distance: 12 km
Elevation: total ascent 600 m, total descent 560 m
Hiking time: 5 h
Level: easy except for some parts of medium difficulty on stairs
Saturday, June 8: Riomaggiore - Portovenere
This is a varied and scenic route that runs from the sanctuary of Our Lady of Montenero (protecting Riomaggiore from above) and continues along the ridge of the promontory closing to the west the Gulf of La Spezia (or Gulf of Poets). As, towards the end of this long and always narrower stripe of land, you begin to see Portovenere, you will think we have left the best for last. The Portus Veneris (Harbour of Venus) of the ancient Romans is still one of the most romantic villages, with its colorful tower-houses overlooking the sea, the two medieval churches (one of which is caressed by the waves), the Genoese Castle and the three islands that are just off the mainland . It is not surprising then that the English Romantic poets had elected this corner of Italy as their home. Return by boat.
Distance: 14 km
Elevation: total ascent 655 m, total descent 720 m
Hiking time: 5 h
Level: initial steps with a steep slope (300m over 2 km), then the path is easy except for a short part that can be problematic for those suffering from vertigo; final steep descent.
Because of possible restoration works on the "Blue Trail" of the Cinque Terre, the itineraries of Monday and Friday might be partially modified. The guide has also the right to modify the program in case of bad weather.
Un toscanaccio sul Garda
Monday, 16 July 2012 16:26
Racconto in stile "maconico" di un'esperienza con noi al Lago di Garda
(di Alessandro Machetti detto Maco)
Cosa dire della settimana passata sul Lago di Garda a fare trekking (per i più ignoranti tipo me, da to trek, camminare lentamente, più o meno attrezzati o liberamente eheheh), che è stata un esperienza nuova, bellissima e anche faticosa. Dicevano gli altri; è ma te sei allenato ce la fai bene…come?!? Na mazza bubbola, in dei momenti mi sembrava che le giunture mi pigliassero a balzelloni giù per le scese ardite. Se ripenso a quei maledetti sassi, di tutte le misure è, che affollavano quei sentieri mi viene un magone allo stomaco e forse anche i miei ginocchi se potessero parlare mi direbbero: o bellino, già c’è il calcio, le pene aggiuntive no cazzo!!!! Però poi pensi alla compagnia delle persone che camminano con te, ai mille posti che vedi in una sola settimana, alle risate che ti fai…mi ricordo che uno degli ultimi giorni, nella tappa Toscolano-Maderno, mentre si scendeva, sai una di quelle discesette dove le unghie dei piedi ti passano fori dalle scarpe al 4000 di pendenza, ecco li, quella fava di Duccio raccontò una barzelletta sulla pesca, ma normale oh, ecco, sarà stata la stanchezza o che altro, insomma attaccai a ride da solo come un cretino per mezz’oretta bona e ogni volte che ci ripensavo riborda a ride…che ci voi fa, tanto un dice che ride fa bene, o chiappa!!! La nostra sapiente guida era Sara, la conoscete si, c’aveva già fatto da mentore quando, per raccogliere fondi per il terremoto in Abruzzo, camminammo per la nota via Francigena, Monteriggioni – Abbadia Isola – Monteriggioni, ovviamente sotto l’acqua…l’altra guida era il vegano Lorenzo, che però dopo il primo giorno si ritirò perché per pranzo gli si prendeva sempre il panino col prosciutto ahahah, no scherzo, aveva già fatto la settimana prima con un gruppo di francesi…quà, quà, je ne compappà, je ne compappà…ah ullallà, escuse mua!!! (cit. Nuti in Caruso Pascoski),
Nature & Tour Guides members of the Association of Nature Guides in Italy (A.I.G.A.E.) and in Tuscany (A.G.A.T.)
