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The Italian Riviera
9 Days from £1,195per
person
person
Save up to £90 per booking on 2020 departures when you book on or before 20/08/2019.
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Itineraries and pricing may vary by departure year
Immerse yourself in the fabulous towns and villages overlooking the Mediterranean on the enchanting Italian Riviera, a region of truly breathtaking natural beauty.
You begin your holiday at London St Pancras International, where you meet your group at Rail Discoveries' dedicated Departure Office before travelling by Eurostar to Paris. Here, change trains and continue by high-speed TGV to Turin.
Enjoy a morning to explore beautiful Turin. An excellent example of a modern Italian city, Turin's wide boulevards, grand old buildings and extensive market places lend an impressive feel to the streets. Be sure to see the Mole Antonelliana, originally a synagogue and nowadays, a remarkable landmark rising high above the skyline.
Later, continue to delightful Chiavari for 6 nights at the Stella del Mare. Found in the province of Genoa, and not far from the city itself, Chiavari is an idyllic coastal town with a truly beautiful harbour lined by classic Italian town houses and populated by bobbing, white sailing boats from across the world.
Chiavari's seafront promenade, stretching across the length of the town, faces a pure sea of azure, and the colourful parasols and buildings lend a timeless cheer to the town.
You are at leisure on Day 3 to settle into your new surroundings. Why not take your first steps on the beach and soak in the spectacular views? Alternatively, discover the old historic centre with its winding cobbled streets.
Today, discover the coastal villages known as the Cinque Terre. These popular villages are part of a beautiful national park which boast UNESCO World Heritage status. The villages attract visitors from across the world for their enduring Italian charm.
The 5 villages - Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia, and Riomaggiore - are set on a particularly rugged section of the coastline, and the rainbow-hued houses cling to the cliffs as they seemingly cascade toward the blue waters below. Each village has its own unique character. Monterosso, the northernmost village, resembles a modern resort with a pristine sandy beach, while Vernazza has a smaller beach, but is notable for its ancient clock towers and labyrinthine streets. Enjoy time to explore the winding, cobbled streets, or perhaps stop and enjoy an ice cream besides the harbour.
In order to travel between these villages, journey by rail through some marvellous Italian scenery on the way. Glide along cliffs, between rolling hills, and alongside golden beaches as you discover the natural beauty of this part of the world.
Take a cruise today from Rapallo to Portofino, a colourful fishing village surrounded by olive groves. As we drift down the coast, enjoy the sight of the Genoan province from an entirely new perspective, a sight which truly succeeds in highlighting the contrast between the dense green forests, sheer white cliffs and enchanting colourful towns and harbours.
Portofino is a postcard town clinging above the water on the side of a rocky outcrop. Hidden from the rest of the world, Portofino's charm lies in its isolated tranquillity, its sheltered harbour a home for yachts and other vessels, and the warm colours of its houses a welcome sight for seagoing vessels.
Continue from here to San Fruttuoso, hidden in a small cove. This refuge is characterised by a small, ancient Benedictine monastery, which has been changed over the years and sits immediately up from the beach.
Please note: landing at San Fruttuoso is dependent on weather conditions. If it is not possible, the boat will land at the lovely Santa Margherita.
Today you are free in the local area. One option is to visit nearby Sestri Levante, which boasts a beautiful position on the coast, flanked by 2 pretty bays - the Bay of Fairytales and the Bay of Silence.
Travel by train to Genoa on Day 7 for a guided tour of the city's Old Town. Genoa is one of Italy's truly great cities, its port a hive of activities and its streets lit up by the grandeur of its mercantile past. It is the sixth largest city in Italy, and its port is one of the most important in Europe, with tens of thousands of ships passing through each year.
The Doge's Palace is particularly impressive, echoing the resplendence of the Renaissance period. It was built in 1298, with Genoa establishing itself economically in the Mediterranean sea.
Bid farewell to Chiavari today, and travel by rail along the stunning coastline to Nice, where you stay overnight.
Continue by high-speed TGV to Paris today, where you connect with the Eurostar to London St Pancras International, where your holiday concludes.
Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We will write to you around 10 weeks before your departure date with the precise meeting times for your tour group.
Enhancing your tour
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Please note: This tour may be suitable for reduced mobility passengers, please call for further information.
of travellers would recommend this tour
Tour Rating
based on 14 verified reviews
Because once again we enjoyed a very good holiday with Rail Discoveries.
Excellent tour and guide.We did find changing trains with luggage was difficult at times.I would certainly recommend taking a small,light case.We loved Turin (Concord Hotel very good ) and Chiavari was a great centre for exploring Italian Riviera.
The holiday was great and everything I expected from RailDiscoveries.The local guides were perfect.
Excellent advice and instructions. Excellent guide.
(negative)food was good but very small portions. had to continually ask for tea bags and milk. (positive) had a great time, plenty to do, beautiful scenery. not everything went to plan, but tour manager was excellent sorting out problems. overall very happy.
The holiday was everything that was advertised and all the arrangements worked perfectly.
Because it was such a fantastic holiday. We went with another couple and all of us were celebrating our Ruby Anniversary.
We found the tour a tiring due to the heat and the need to get on and off so many trains some days
Very good in most respects. Hotel food was disappointing and there were a couple of +1 hour delays on the journey out.
Beautiful locations, extremely helpful tour guide, good accommodation,lovely food and possibly outside your control - perfect weather!
Delightful towns and the stunning Cinque Terre
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