sellITALIAN RIVIERA

Upon arrival in Milano MXP Airport, you will travel to Cinque Terre. You will be met by your driver and a tour escort and will be transferred to your hotel in Liguria region (Approximate 3 hours by motorcoach), in northwest Italy. This crescent shaped regions Mediterranean coastline is known as the Italian Riviera. The 5 colorful fishing villages of the Cinque Terre, as well as stylish Portofino, Rapallo and Santa Margherita Ligure, are on the eastern coast or Riviera di Levante. Once in Clinque Terre you will experience a welcome dinner (hotel or restaurant walking distance), and have the rest of your evening at your leisure.

Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are five small villages surrounded by a unique landscape that UNESCO has named a World Heritage site. These villages contain gorgeous beaches, crystal-clear water, steep trails winding through lush vineyards and olive groves, lemon trees and pine woods. A perfect spot, whether you enjoy swimming, boating, walking through the historic town, or exploring the pristine nature all around you. After breakfast, depart for Cinque Terre and enjoy an unforgettable day dedicated to the discovery of one of the most amazing and enchanting landscape in the World. You will travel though the little villages via boat (weather permitting) and train. The five villages, “Cinque Terre” is an area suspended between sea and land, hanging from sheer cliffs surrounded by hills and vineyards. You will enter a little piece of heaven. This spectacular coastline was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and it is one of the best preserved natural and semi-natural parts of the Mediterranean.

As one of the most popular things to do while in the Italian Riviera, prepare to learn how to make pesto! Discover all the essential products, the Italian origins, and the story of the habitants that create the famous Ligurian sauce. During the pesto-making class discover all the secrets of the authentic recipe by using the original ingredients, a marble mortar & pestle, and your own hands to curate the specialty. At the end, compare the pesto that you made with an industrial one! To enhance the experience you'll also be preparing either fresh pasta or fresh gnocchi in the authentic handmade way. During the cooking lesson will be served a selection of Ligurian wines, including the infamous sweet wine, Sciacchetrà, a typical wine of “5 terre”. This class lasts approximately 2-3 hours, and afterwards you can eat the food of which you prepared during the lesson.

After breakfast at your hotel, take a walking tour of Santa Margherita Ligure, then depart for a short boat ride to Portofino, a picturesque seaside village with brightly colored houses lining the shore. Portofino is also known as the resort of the rich and famous. Designer boutiques and dozens of cafes and restaurants line the main square, giving guests the chance to experience the real Italian “bella vita”. You will have free time to visit the main square and the church of San Giorgio, which is said to have relics of St. George. You can also visit the Brown Castle which was built in the 15th century and used for harbor defense over the centuries. You will have some free time to sight see, have some gelato, or just sit and people watch. Later on in the afternoon, make your way by boat back to Rapallo where you have the evening at your leisure to either explore or relax.

After breakfast, prepare to depart the Liguria region and make your way towards Lake Como. Once you reach Como, enjoy some free time to explore and settle into the area. The city offers many historical and cultural gems, which you can easily discover by taking a walk in the pedestrian historical center. Don't miss a chance to observe the Como Cathedral, the Basilica of St Abbondio, and the city's medieval town hall (Broletto).

Enjoy breakfast followed by a full-day excursion. Meet your step-on guide and start discovering Lake Como from the waters, then stop to enjoy the wonderful villages of Bellagio and Tremezzo. Trough this boat trip, you can admire the villages, the Mediaeval hamlets, the Romanesque churches, the views of the flora and of course, a long series of villas with their luxuriant gardens. In Tremezzo, stop to admire Villa Carlotta with its magnificent botanic garden and art masterpieces. There is over 70.000 square meters of gardens and museum! The beautiful villa, built at the end of XVII century in a natural basin between the lake and the mountains, faces the dolomite Grignas and the peninsula of Bellagio, at The Pearl of Lake Como. Few places are as romantic as Lake Como, and even fewer resorts are as beautiful as Bellagio. Called the “Pearl of the Lake”, Bellagio's world class hotels and restaurants provide the perfect place to soak up the lake's famous panorama. The village is characterized by century-old buildings, stone lanes, and picturesque cobbled stairways filled with shops showcasing the finest Italian wares. Later on, upon returning to Como, enjoy a farewell dinner on your final evening in Italy.

Arrivederci! After breakfast, you will be taken via private transfer to the Milan airport for your return flight to the USA.

Grazie! (Thank you) for choosing and traveling with Perillo Tours!