Cinque Terre Day Trip from Florence with Optional Hiking

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Duration:13 hours (approx.)
Location: Florence, Tuscany

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If you love an outdoor adventure, our Cinque Terre tour is sure to add a little something special to your Italian holiday. Join us and explore some of the country’s most beautiful coastal towns and admire the stunning landscapes on a guided tour you’re sure to remember for life.

- The only round trip, one day tour from Florence to all five Cinque Terre villages

- Explore the Italian Riviera and enjoy spectacular coastal views

- Free time in the villages for wine tasting, souvenir shopping or for a swim in the turquoise waters at one of the area’s beaches

- A scenic boat ride along the Cinque Terre coastline (end March to end October only - weather permitting)

- Tour is only in English (not different languages contemporarly) to ensure maximum quality and customer service

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1.
Check-in and departure point
2.
Built in the valley of the torrente Groppo, until 1950 the stream which runs through the town was completely uncovered and 11 stone bridges allowed the people to cross from one side to the other. Over the next thirty years the stream was gradually covered over. The ancient village was destroyed by Saracen pirates (in 849) and the surviving people fled in land to live. When the seas were made safe again in the 11th century, people came back to settle here under the protection of the Republic of Genova. By the 1200's cultivation of vines was not only established but the wine they produced was sought after. The church of San Lorenzo was begun in 1338. The patron saint is celebrated on the 10th of August with a procession through the streets carrying a statue of him. The castle which protected the town from pirates is now a private home, you can see the garden from the panoramic walk, it is on the rock immediately above the port. Manarola is now famous for its Christmas nativity scene which is the biggest in the world. Figures outlined in thousands of lights cover the hillside. Also an Easter scene is made.
3.
The middle town of the five, Corniglia is the smallest town and sits at 90 metres above sea level. The name derives from the huge spur of rock on which the village sits. Population of about only 200. San Pietro church from the fourteenth century on the site of an eleventh century chapel. San Pietro's day is 29th June and as part of the celebrations, there is a procession through the streets. A special savoury tart is prepared with rice, eggs and cheese and is shared among the people who take part in the procession.
4.
These ancient trails are rough but manageable. Be prepared for the hiking – although the path is open to everyone, remember that the ground can be slippery, uneven, and in places steep and narrow. The charm of the area is that it is natural and unspoiled, do not expect hand rails or safety rails when steps are steep or when the path is close to the cliff edge. Because of the nature of the hike, we are unable to accept small children or anyone with walking difficulties.
5.
Vernazza is unique in the Cinque Terre because of the small port that was built allowing ships to land in the protected bay. It was already a fortified village and efficient maritime base in the earliest records available from the eleventh century. Today there are traces of the military defences built by the Genovese in the thirteenth century such as traces of the old walls, ramparts and the look out tower.
6.
There was a castle here before 1200 and some ruins of it can still be seen. The community of Monterosso was founded in 1214. The church of San Giovanni Battista, built-in 1220 has a bell tower built in 1400 as a lookout tower. The church of San Antonio di Mesco was built in 1335.
7.
The new town is called Fegina and is linked to the old part of Monterosso by a pedestrian tunnel. Statue of Neptune built into the rock, but made of concrete so badly deteriorated, was built by an architect in the 1920's. The sandy shelf provides the ideal habitat for seagrass which acts as a lung for the waters of the Cinque Terre and provides a beautiful beach for us. The whole area is a marine protected area, like the sea version of a national park. 2007 Forbes magazine called Monterosso the sexiest beach in the world....whatever that may mean.
8.
Boat Ride (weather permitting)
9.
At Riomaggiore, centuries ago, the distinctive tall, colourful houses known as Genovese tower houses arranged in rows connected by alleys, arches and steps provided a defense against pirates. House colours are regulated by the comune. You can't just paint them any colour you like! Houses have two entrances, one at the front and one at the rear on the higher road, so that when they were attacked by pirates, the people could escape. At the end of the eighteen hundreds the railway came along the coast and Riomaggiore, along with the other towns of the cinque terrre came out of their historic isolation, even though a road wouldn't reach them until the 1970's. Language, lingua ligure, the villages were so cut off even from each other that they spoke different dialects of the same language.
10.
Coach transfer back to Florence

ADDITIONAL INFO

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
• Suitable walking shoes are mandatory for those doing the hiking – no flip-flops. Suggestions: walking boots or sneakers, closed toe shoes with non-slip soles.
• If you want to swim during free time, please remember to bring your own towel and swimwear.
• On rare occasions the boat ride will stop operating due to bad weather or strong winds. It is beyond our control so no refunds or discounts will be issued.
• In case of unexpected closure of the paths for unforeseen events, alternative routes will be taken instead for those doing the hiking
• A large amount of walking is involved for those doing the hiking. You must be of average fitness and be able to keep up with the rest of the group.
• Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking difficulties, below average fitness, or young children.
• Minimum age is 8 years.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : Jim_C
The Cinque Terrace experience was a wonderful and unforgettable one. The towns were stunning, as was the Mediterranean coast. Both Stefano and Geraldo were great guides—considerate, helpful, and always upbeat and friendly. An intense day in terms of physical activity, but overall a very good one.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-07-02 03:22:23

Posted By : Alyssa_S
This tour was great fun and an awesome way to explore Cinque Terre if you haven’t got time to stay there. Davide was an excellent tour guide, the best we have had throughout our 8 week stay in Italy. Davide went above and beyond to ensure the day ran smoothly and to maximise free time in each town. He also provided the perfect amount of historical information. If you love nature and are keen to do a moderate-challenging hike, choose the hike option; we had stunning views and lots of fun! Make sure you bring your bathers/swimmers to jump into the crystal clear water in Vernazza, Monterosso and Riomaggiore - there wasn’t a lot of time to swim and explore the beautiful villages but we managed it!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-07-02 01:10:28

Posted By : Tracy_Y
Our guide ginny was so lovely i recently had a knee replacement and am still recovering so a lot of walking is difficult for me. I discussed this with ginny at the beginning of the day, she reassured me and made suggestions of how to make the day easier for me to enjoy. She ensured we had a wonderful experience of cinque terre despite my mobility issues and made sure I was ok throughout. She is very knowledgeable kind and friendly. The whole experience was excellent. Cinque terre is a must see incredible scenery quaint streets and very beautiful. We were able to see 4 of the 5 villages and only missed out on Corniglia due to the amount of steps there was to climb.
The boat ride at the end of the day was very choppy but it did round the day off. It is a long tiring day but worth it to see such a beautiful part of Italy
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-07-01 17:44:30

Posted By : Z3493KJfabiolaa
The tour was amazing! Very well organized, professional and gave us a change to quickly explore Cinque Terre. Thanks to our guides Chris and Stephano for sharing their knowledge and provide us flexibility during ou tour.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-07-01 16:07:20

Posted By : mette_b
We visited Cinque Terre on a rain filled day making the hike not as straight forward when we were between villages. Great visits lead by Valentina, Claudia and Veronica who did a great job keeping large groups of people together... We had hoped for more time each place, and had just purchased a wine testing in MonteRosso when we realized we had less than 10 minutes left before leaving on the boat ride ( wonderful part of the journey). Consider this an appetizer visit only, other than the lunch location there was not much time to linger however still very much worth the visit.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-07-01 10:19:24

Posted By : Julie_G
I don’t have enough great things to say about this tour. Emma, Stefano & Giancarlo were fun and knowledgeable and amazing leaders with our group.

I want to personally thank Stefano on this tour. We were with my mom and aunt who are in their 70s and had a difficult time with the walking. Stefano was incredibly considerate of their abilities and every step of the way, gave us options for them to take. He took it upon himself to make sure my mom and aunt were comfortable the whole day, from the bus ride to the walking in the towns. He was gracious and friendly and kind. I just wish we had more time with him.

Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-07-01 09:50:25

Posted By : neilraju
This tour captured the five villages collectively called Cinque Terra or “5 lands”. We had Anna and Jinebra as our guides. They were fantastic and there each step of the way during your 12-14 hours together. They take you on a coach bus for 2 hours to a train station (La Spazzia), then you start going to each village one by one. At the 3rd village, you can opt to go for lunch at a local restaurant—decent vegetarian options. Pasta with pesto or tomato sauce plus salad and water. Pesto is from Genova, which is in the surrounding area. Afterward, you can opt for a 1.8-mile hike to the 4th village. The hike is moderate to strenuous level with steep steps. You’re literally on the cliff doing hikes with the sea below. If the hike is not for you, you can opt to get to the 4th village by train. You’re never on your own, though. At the 5th village, if the sea conditions are favorable, you take a ride back to the 1st village to explore. Most of the time, you’re just eating. :). The focaccia bread and local wines are excellent to try. From there, you get back on the train to the coach bus and back to Florence. It’s a 730am to 9 pm tour. It is well worth seeing this unique UNESCO-protected area.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-07-01 04:42:22

Posted By : Ann_K
Talk about a once in a lifetime…We had an awesome day with our tour guides Anna and Genevra traveling from Florence to Cinque Terre. I won’t lie it was a day where I reached 21k steps but totally worth seeing these beautiful islands. We even found our new favorite bar!
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Posted On : 2024-07-01 03:42:24

Posted By : Ellie_R
Absolutely breathtaking views! It is packed with 5 villages so don't expect to be spending more than an hour or so in each place. Nonetheless, it's a well-structured and flexible day trip! The bus rides didn't feel long; the tour leaders did a great job entertaining us along the way. Gabriel was our tour guide and he did an awesome job!! Chris and Anna were also very accommodating about our travel needs, it was well worth the trip.
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Posted On : 2024-06-30 14:02:23

Posted By : Bernard_H
This was the most incredible exposure to an area with SO much to offer. The guides Chris, Gabriel and Anna made greatly enhanced the experience with their knowledge, enthusiasm and recommendations. It was truly magical day and this little taste has left us wanting more so we will definitely be back!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-30 05:16:48