Cinque Terre
Set against cliffs rising dramatically from the sea, the Cinque Terre is sure to be a place you will never forget.

Nature enthusiasts will be glad to know that the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre is a Nature Sanctuary, as well as a Unesco World Environmental and Cultural Heritage site. In the Cinque Terre there are no cars and no noise; nature steals the scene!

If you love to shop and eat you will be in hog heaven. The villages are brimming with boutiques, ice cream shops, and terraces where you can enjoy a drink or bite to eat. In high season there's a lot of hustle and bustle, but if you look beyond the crowds you will see that the charm of a bygone era still abounds.

One of the best things about the Cinque Terre is seeing things from the sea, so we recommend you take the ferry to travel from Portovenere to the other villages on the itinerary. (The ferry is also convenient because it lets you off right at the level of the village.) If the ferry isn't running you can take the regional train or we'll take you with the vehicle.

This schedule is pretty fast-paced but sitting down for a great lunch is an important part of it! The Cinque Terre boasts many fine restaurants and some of the best seafood in the world. The region is also known for its refreshing white wine that you should be sure to sample. Your driver-guide can help you with suggestions of places to eat. (Note that we get no payola for giving restaurant recommendations).

Pisa
On Pisa's “Campo dei Miracoli” you will find not only the world’s most famous bell tower but also the cathedral, baptistery and cemetery, which are all remarkable monuments.

Although our visit of Pisa is brief, there is time to climb the Leaning Tower; it only takes 15 minutes. We can pre-book tickets for you (see the bottom of the page for costs). You'll still have time to see how many creative shots you can get of your group "holding up" the Leaning Tower.

• The Tower climb is OPTIONAL for an additional fee and must be pre-booked. Children under 8 not permitted to climb.
• If you'd like to enter the baptistery (acoustics demonstration on the hour and half hour) or campo santo, tickets should be booked in advance.
• The Pisa cathedral does not open til 10am. We don't recommend going inside but if it's imperative you should let us know in advance. (Note that in some cases it might not be possible to modify the schedule to accommodate this.)

CINQUE TERRE OTHER COSTS
• The ferry (from Portovenere to Vernazza, "one way with stops") costs approx. 30 Euro pp for those 12 yrs of age and up, 15 Euro for children 6-11. The fee is to be paid directly in cash at the ferry kiosk. The ferry is subject to sea and weather conditions, and cannot be pre-booked.
• A local guide who can accompany you on foot is available for an additional 320 Euro (must be arranged in advance).

PISA OTHER COSTS


• Leaning Tower of Pisa (open daily), 35 Euro per person

Children under the age of 8 are not permitted to climb the Leaning Tower. The price of pre-booked tickets is subject to change (due to increases implemented by the issuing organization and not having to do with us).

IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE
• The Cinque Terre is NOT WELL-SUITED for anyone in a wheelchair or with mobility issues. Our Easy Cinque Terre itinerary is recommended for these situations, available from both Livorno and La Spezia.
• The Via dell'Amore is still closed with no known reopening date.
• If the ferry is not running you can travel between the villages by local train, which costs a few Euro (out of pocket expense).
• Your driver-guide will not accompany through the villages; they must take the vehicle to meet you at the other end.
• The conditions and availability of certain features are ever-changing in the Cinque Terre and we reserve the right to make changes to your itinerary based on the situation on the day of your service, or to substitute a different service in the event of severe storm warnings.