Exploring the Cuisine & Culture of Liguria and Emilia-Romagna Tour

Woman enjoying Liguirian cuisine outdoors with a view in Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy

What to expect on this itinerary

Culture embodied in cuisine with history personified in architecture will be yours to enjoy during your custom tailored tour that takes you from the Mediterranean to the Adriatic. Stroll down the medieval cobbled streets that wind along the promontories of Cinque Terre. Savor a bite of cheese from a wheel opened just for your pleasure, and then sip a glass of crisp white wine with a view of the crystalline indigo waters nearby. Indulge in zesty pasta sauces served inside centuries-old restaurants and then linger on the fortified walls of dramatic castles. Liguria and Emilia-Romagna will open your eyes to the majestic landscapes and open your taste buds to incredible gastronomy.

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Genoa, Portofino, Recco, Santa Margherita, Portovenere, Riomaggiore, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Parma, Bologna, Ravenna, Ferrara, Tellaro, Lerici, San Moreno

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Genoa – Arrive in Genoa for an Introductory Tour of the Ligurian Coast

Genoa retains a glimmer of its maritime grandeur from the 10th century to the 17th century as marble palaces line a wide and graceful boulevard. Steep streets and narrow lanes meander along the Old Harbor as the city stretches around the Mediterranean waters and upwards along the foothills of the Apennine Mountains. Your flight will land at Cristoforo Colombo Airport where you will meet your private transfer. The wealth and power of the city’s past is illustrated by the Porta Soprana that frames the Piazza dei Ferrari. The 11th-century gateway contains two dramatic preserved towers that are connected to the old city walls and the renowned explorer Christopher Columbus grew up in the stone house beside the cloister of Sant’Andrea near the gateway.

The 17th-century street of Via Balbi showcases the palatial splendor included with the city’s everyday life as the Palazzo dell’Universita features a remarkable courtyard and lavish gardens. You will easily settle into the luxuries of Genoa with your private introductory tour, and it will inspire you in the same way that the city inspired Wagner, Flaubert, and Joseph Conrad. You venture next to the Old Harbor and make your way down a small alley to find the centuries old restaurant that embodies the old and new of Genoa. A chalkboard lists the menu items in Ligurian dialect as the food sings in its simplicity as it celebrates every ingredient.

What's Included:

Accommodation
Transfer
Tour
Day 2

Monterosso – Enjoy a Scenic Ride to Cinque Terre and Explore Monterosso

Day 3

Monterosso – Visit Cinque Terre by Boat and Relish a Wine and Food Tour

Day 4

Monterosso – Delight in the Landscape and Cuisine of the Italian Riviera

Day 5

Bologna – Venture to Charming Parma en route to Medieval Bologna

Day 6

Bologna – Discover the Wonders of Bologna including a Private Food Tour

Day 7

Bologna – Explore Emilia-Romagna for Castles, Mosaics, and Historic Towns

Day 8

Bologna – Depart for Home

Trip Highlights

  • Relish the flavors of Ligurian wine and food during a paired tasting with a view of the Mediterranean coastline
  • Enjoy a sampling of the celebrated dishes of Bologna during a private food tour of a city famous for its cuisine
  • Luxuriate during a private cruise along Cinque Terre to view the gorgeous scenery and the distinctive positioning of the five towns
  • Delight as you tour a cheese factory to learn the art of producing Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • Partake in a private cooking class on the Ligurian coast to emulate the flavors of the coastal cuisine while guided by a local chef
  • Witness the stunning castles and powerful strongholds of the Emilia-Romagna region, including the Towers of the Republic of San Moreno
  • Roam along the streets of Genoa to view opulent palaces and historical gates edging the protected home of Christopher Columbus

Detailed Description

If beauty derives from pleasure, then Liguria and Emilia-Romagna burst with indulgences both gastronomically and aesthetically. Your 8-day tour will take you from Cinque Terre to Bologna and immerse you in the splendor of the rich Italian heritage as it shapes the inspiring cuisine. From small towns to elaborate castles, golden valleys to metallic cliffs, you will find passion in the flavors and wonder in the architecture. Your culinary and artistic journey will begin with your arrival at Cristoforo Colombo Airport in Genoa. Your private transfer will escort you into Genoa and take you on an introductory tour of a city decorated with lavish palaces that tell of a decadent past. Wake the next day for a scenic drive down the Ligurian coast to visit the small villages en route to the town of Monterosso al Mare, one of the five towns of Cinque Terre.

Enjoy the charms of Recco, Santa Margherita, Portofino, and Levanto and then enjoy dinner at a restaurant favored by locals for an introduction to the cultural cuisine of the fishing village. The next day, you will take a private cruise to Cinque Terre to connect you to the five towns hidden by the Maritime Alps. Your guide will take you to hidden beaches and coves nestled between the villages before anchoring at Riomaggiore. A restaurant along the Lover’s Trail overlooks the coastline and offers you a food and wine-paired sampling to highlight the flavors of the region in both the cuisine prepared and the wine offered. Next, you will venture to the protruding landscape of the Gulf of Poets, across the water from the Italian Riviera.

Explore the serene cultural towns of Tellaro and Lerici before you visit the iconic Riviera town of Portovenere for a private cooking lesson. You will make your way by train to Levanto, one town north of Monterosso, to meet your private transfer at the station. You will venture through the mountains and across the hills of Emilia-Romagna to reach the city of Parma. After exploring the history and art of the city, you will tour a cheese factory to learn about the process of cheese making, followed by a sampling of the Parmigiano-Reggiano.

You will then reach Bologna in the late afternoon for an evening at leisure, and then wake the next morning for a private tour of the medieval city to show you the fascinating history, marvelous architecture, and iconic art. An encompassing food tour will follow your discovery of the city streets for an opportunity to taste some of the famous and lesser-known dishes for which the city is celebrated. The next day, you will venture outside of Bologna with a private transfer to enjoy the distinctive early Christian mosaics of Ravenna, the old harbors of Rimini, and the majestic castle towers of the Republic of San Moreno. Conclude the next day as you meet your private transfer in the lobby of the hotel and make your way to the airport for your flight home.

Starting Price

$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

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My husband and I went through Zicasso to plan our honeymoon to Italy and Greece. This was the best decision ever! We worked closely with our travel specialist to plan our trip and she was absolutely phenomenal. This was our first international trip outside of the US, so we were a bit nervous at first! However, our specialist ensured every aspect of the trip was organized and that we were taken care of every step of the way.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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