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GENUA
AND THE CINQUE TERRE:
a 7 days cycling holiday
From
Genoa
(Genova) this suggestive tour takes you through the Cinque Terre, a
wonderful stretch of coast protected by Unesco. The route continues to
Portovenere, a charming village standing on a rocky promontory in front
of the island
of
Palmaria, immersed in the scents and intense colours of the Ligurian coast. The
tour begins with a visit to Genoa, the main
port
of Italy
and also the city where Cristopher Columbus was born. From
Genoa
the picturesque narrow-gauge railway route to Casella will take you 300m
uphill, with beautiful views over the gulf and over the fortresses
behind
Genoa.
The first part of the tour involves some uphill sections, but the effort
will be repaid by the scenery, characterised by little old stone
villages surrounded by olive groves. In Cicagna there is an 'ecomuseo'
about the slate which is so characteristic of the local geology; in the
13th century this slate was used for the façade of the Basilica dei
Fieschi in Cogorno. In the green Val Graveglia you can visit the
interesting manganese mine of Gambatesa, which is still in use. Finally,
it is a downhill cycle to the beautiful
village
of
Portovenere
and the sea. The name
of Portovenere
(Portus Veneris) is believed to date back to a temple dedicated to the
goddess Venus, which was sited on the promontory where the church of
Peter the Apostle (13th century) now stands. If you have time you can take a boat trip to the
island
of Palmaria
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Programme
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Day
1
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Arrival
in Genoa
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Day 2
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Genoa -
Casella -Scoffera - Lumarzo- Calvari
(km 52/32,5
miles - difference in altitude 500m)
Genoa, an important
seaport in Northern Italy, has an interesting historical centre
with cosy little squares and a ting tangle of alleys. Remains of
the old town walls are
preserved in the St.Lawrence Cathedral (cattedrale di San Lorenzo;
12th century). Real symbols of the town are the 'Lanterna' (117 m),
an old lighthouse, which is visible on sea from 30km distance
and the monumental fountain on Piazza de Ferrari, the beating heart
of the town. A real attraction is the old fishermen's quarter 'Boccadasse'
with its colourful fishermen's boats and delicious ice-cream.
From
Genoa you go to Casella by
narrow-gauge
railway route and then it goes in the saddle to Scoffera, Lumarzo
and Calvari
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Day 3
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Calvari - Carasco -
Val Graveglia - Varese Ligure
(km 57/35,5 miles -difference in altitude 650m)
Varese Ligure is a
small village (borgo) nestled in the valley 'Val di Vara' and
famous because of its fascinating architecture with a circular town plan.
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Day 4
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Varese Ligure - Levanto
(km 45/28 miles
- difference in altitude 650m)
Levanto is on the
coast at the end of a valley with olive groves and pine trees. There
is a beautiful 13th century church. This San Andrea with
is black and white striped facade and magnificent rose window is
a good example of the Ligurian Gothic style.
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Day 5
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Levanto - Cinque
Terre- Levanto
From Levanto you go by boat
to the Cinque Terre (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola,
Riomaggiore) to visit each village; the return journey can be
made by boat or on foot along the 'Via dell’Amore' path, a romantic
walking path in the shade of the spectacular cliffs with beautiful
views of the deep blue sea. This path,
which was cut out of the rock between 1926 and 1928 to connect
Riomaggiore with Manarola, forms part of the walking route 'Sentiero
Azzurro’.
You continue till Vernazza.
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Day
6
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Levanto -
Cinque Terre -
La
Spezia
(km 41/25,5 miles - difference in altitude 350m)
La
Spezia, situated in the most inner part of the Golfo dei
Poeti on flat plains that develop in an area limited by the sea
and the surrounding hills, lived during the 800's one of the
most important periods of its history thanks to the realisation
of the Military Shipyard and the Mercantile Port that changed a
fishing village into a modern city.
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Day
7
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Departure
after breakfast
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The tour includes
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6
over night stays with breakfast in *** stars hotels
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luggage
transportation
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double
trip by boat: Levanto - Riomaggiore -Levanto
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ticket
for the walking path 'Via dell'amore'
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route
instructions (in Italian and English) and maps
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tour
information
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back-up
service hotline
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route
briefing
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insurance
The tour doesn’t include:
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Travel to the starting and ending places
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lunches
– meals - beverages
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visits
-
train ticket for
Genoa
to Casella (about 2,00 Euro)
-
tips
-
extras
-
everything not specified under the entry 'Price
includes'
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Period
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every
day from 1st March till 15 November. For groups (min. 10 persons)
are on request other starting dates possible,
also outside the mentioned season
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Level
3
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Routes
on asphalt or dirt roads. The differences in altitudes of this
tour requires a fit condition and a basic experience in cycling.
Daily
distances between 40 and 55 km. Total kilometres: 195 km
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Participants
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Minimum
two persons (travelling alone on request)
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Price
p.p. 2012
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Per
person in double room sharing € 720,00
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Supplement
single room
€ 145,00
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Bike
rental € 90,00
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Upgrade
Hotel le Grazie a Portovenere € 20,00
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On
priors request
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extra
nights in Genoa or La Spezia or in any of the towns in between.
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