New Year in the Cinque Terre and the Portofino Peninsula

Reception at 1 pm at the train station of Genoa Piazza Principe. Visit of this beautiful port town and its district of the palaces of «Rolli» classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Late afternoon transfer to the lively seaside village of Moneglia on the Gulf of Tigulio.

Walking time: about 4 hours. Accommodation: hotel**. Meals included: dinner. Meals not included: breakfast - lunch.
 

Short train transfer to the fishing village of Camogli. Hike on the promontory through the monastery of San Fruttuoso to Portofino. Those who wish to do so will be able to do only half a day of walking by boat to San Fruttuoso where they will join the group for the picnic. The Abbey of San Fruttuoso de Capodimonte is a monastic complex located in the homonymous bay in Camogli, inside the Portofino Regional Natural Park. Set in a cove, the abbey is accessible only by sea or by a long steep path that dominates the Paradisio Gulf. According to Pliny the Elder, Portofino was founded by the Romans and named Portus Delphini because of the large number of dolphins in the Gulf of Tigullio. During the Middle Ages, the natural port of Portofino served as a refuge for the merchant navy of the Republic of Genoa. Today it is a small, exclusive port frequented by the Italian "jet-set". Return to Moneglia.

Walking time: about 5 hours 30 or about 2 hours 30 for those who take the boat. Positive drop: + 700 m or + 250 m for those who take the boat. Negative drop: - 700 m or - 250 m for those who take the boat. Accommodation: hotel**. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.
 

To well end the year, start of the crossing of the "Cinque Terre" from Monterosso to Corniglia, by the most photogenic of the 5 villages, Vernazza. Monterosso al Mare is the westernmost village in the Cinque Terre. It is located in the centre of a small gulf. The old hamlet still retains the original medieval character with its huts-torri (tower houses) and carruggi (narrow alleys). Vernazza. The site is perched on a small rocky promontory, and once the most prosperous of the Cinque Terre. The castle of the Doria family and other medieval remains recall its rich economic past. Corniglia differs from the other villages of the Cinque Terre, because it is the only one that does not descend directly on the sea: the main part of the village is located at the top of a promontory overlooking the Mediterranean Sea at about 100 m of altitude. Return to Moneglia by train in the late afternoon. New Year’s Eve dinner and champagne for the 12 strokes of midnight!

Walking time: 4 hours 30 approx. Positive drop: + 350 m. Negative drop: - 350 m. Accommodation: hotel**. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.
 

To well start the year, end of the crossing of the «Cinque Terre» from Corniglia to Riomaggiore. From Corniglia, we will reach Volastra by an enchanting path through the terraced vineyards that produce the wine D.O.C «Cinque Terre» and the famous «Sciachetrà». The Sciachetrà, a liquefied wine with a controlled appellation, from the vineyards of the Cinque Terre National Park, has been recognized as Presidio Slow Food. From Volastra we will go down to Manarola then Riomaggiore, the last village of the Cinque Terre. Return to Moneglia by train in the late afternoon.

Walking time: 4 hours 30 approx. Positive drop: + 600 m. Negative drop: - 600 m. Accommodation: hotel**. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.
 

Separation on 2 January 2021, after breakfast. Trains to Genoa, Pisa or Milan.

Meals included: breakfast. Meals not included: lunch - dinner.