Versilia and Liguria

From artistic villages to maritime republics

13 days From €13200 per person
  • Overview
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Introduction

The itinerary follows the Mediterranean coast from Tuscany to Liguria, alternating sea, hills, and historic port cities. Each stage reveals how art, trade, and geography have shaped communities that remain deeply connected to the sea.

Day 1: Versilia

Arrival at Florence Airport and private transfer to Pietrasanta, a refined town that has long attracted sculptors and artists drawn by its proximity to Carrara marble. After check-in, enjoy a welcome dinner in town. 

Overnight in an art-focused boutique hotel in Pietrasanta

VERSILIA_OVERVIEW

Day 2: Carrara

Travel toward the Carrara marble quarries, where white stone has been extracted since Roman times. Visit the quarries with a specialist guide, learning how this material shaped Renaissance art and architecture, including the work of Michelangelo. 

Lunch in the Versilia area, followed by a choice between visiting a local artist’s workshop or spending time in Forte dei Marmi, a historic seaside resort known for its understated elegance and long-standing appeal among European families. 

Return to Pietrasanta for dinner. 

Overnight in Pietrasanta.

CARRARA_OVERVIEW

Day 3: Cinque Terre

Enjoy a day dedicated to the Cinque Terre, approaching the coast by boat to appreciate its dramatic geography away from crowded trails. Disembark in Manarola for lunch and time to explore, before returning along the coast. Dinner back in Pietrasanta.  

Overnight in Pietrasanta.

CINQUETERRE_OVERVIEW

Day 4: From Versilia to Liguria

Depart Pietrasanta and travel north into Liguria. On clear days, stop in Ameglia, a hillside village offering panoramic views over the Gulf of Poets. Its position reflects centuries of coastal defende, when  communities retreated inland to protect themselves from pirate raids.  

Continue to La Spezia for lunch, a city shaped by trade and later transformed under Napoleon. 

Arrive in Santa Margherita Ligure in the late afternoon. Enjoy a wine tasting before dinner.  

Overnight in Santa Margherita Ligure.  

LASPEZIA_OVERVIEW

Day 5: Portofino

Spend the morning at leisure in Santa Margherita Ligure. 

In the afternoon, meet your guide for an experience in the Portofino Natural Park, exploring the landscape that connects woodland, cliffs, and sea. 

Overnight in Santa Margherita Ligure

PORTOFINO_OVERVIEW

Day 6: San Fruttuoso

Today is dedicated to the sea. Travel by boat along the coast to reach the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, accessible only by water or on foot. This Benedictine complex, now protected by FAI, stands as a rare example of architecture fully integrated into its natural setting.  

Return by sea.  

Overnight in Santa Margherita Ligure

SANFRUTTUOSO_OVERVIEW

Day 7: Camogli

Walk the coastal path from Camogli to Punta Chiappa, one of Liguria’s lesser-known stretches of coastline. This hike offers open views over the sea and insight into fishing traditions and rural coastal life.  

Overnight in Santa Margherita Ligure.

CAMOGLI_OVERVIEW

Day 8: Genoa

Depart Santa Margherita and transfer to Genoa. After check-in, meet your guide for an introduction to the historic center, one of the largest medieval old towns in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the city’s layered identity as a powerful maritime republic. Enjoy a wine tasting in a historic venue within the old town.  

Overnight in a historic palazzo-style accommodation in Genoa.

GENOA_OVERVIEW

Day 9: Aristocracy and everyday life in Genoa

Visit Palazzo Spinola, gaining insight into the wealth and cultural ambitions of Genoa’s aristocracy. The afternoon is free for independent exploration or shopping.  

Overnight in Genoa.

GENOA2_OVERVIEW

Day 10: Savona

Travel west toward Sanremo, stopping in Savona to visit the historic center and its ceramics museum. Continue to a historic olive oil mill, producing oil since the 18th century, for a tasting and insight into Ligurian agricultural tradition.  

Overnight in Sanremo.

SAVONA_OVERVIEW

Day 11: Sanremo

Meet your guide for a walking tour of Sanremo, exploring its historic quarters and understanding its evolution as a resort town connected to European culture and music.  

Overnight in Sanremo.

SANREMO_OVERVIEW

Day 12: Monaco

Depart Sanremo and cross the border into France, reaching Monaco along the Côte d’Azur. After lunch, meet your local guide for an introduction to the principality, where geography, politics, and elegance converge. 

Overnight in Monaco.

MONACO_OVERVIEW

Day 13: Departure

Private transfer to the airport and departure.

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From artistic villages to maritime republics

Often overlooked in favor of Italy’s more iconic destinations, the stretch of coast between Versilia, Liguria and the French Riviera reveals a layered history shaped by trade and maritime power. This journey moves beyond the obvious, connecting artists’ villages, fortified coastlines, and historic port cities that once dominated Mediterranean routes, before crossing into Monaco to conclude the experience.

Trip Highlights

  • Discover Pietrasanta, an artists’ town shaped by sculpture and marble. 
  • Explore the Carrara marble quarries, where Michelangelo sourced his stone. 
  • Experience the Cinque Terre by sea, avoiding peak crowds. 
  • Walk and sail along lesser-known stretches of the Ligurian coast. 
  • Understand Genoa’s aristocratic past through palaces and wine culture. 
  • Taste olive oil traditions rooted in centuries of production. 
  • Cross into the French Riviera, ending in Monaco 

This is a selected example of our journeys. Contact us to personalize it.

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