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Italy

Cinque Terre, Carrara and Medieval Hill Towns

Program No. 14299RJ
Explore the Cinque Terre — the Italian Riviera’s colorful villages carved above the Mediterranean Sea — and learn about medieval life, Michelangelo and the history of nearby Lerici.

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Program
At a Glance
Duration
11 days
Program Begins
Lerici
Program Concludes
Pisa
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
21 ( 9B, 6L, 6D )
Activity Level
Along this jeweled coast, the five villages of the Cinque Terre carve a charming niche where mountains plunge into the sparkling Mediterranean. By land and sea, discover the limitless inspiration of the Cinque Terre and Carrara. Learn why countless artists and authors have found muses in the seaside villages, terraced vineyards and rocky promontories of this area of the Italian Riviera.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Discover how inhabitants carved vineyard terraces along the steep mountainside in the Cinque Terre.
  • Walk scenic paths with breathtaking vistas of the mountains that plunge into the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Consider the experiences of Romantic English poets who lived near and were inspired by the Bay of Lerici.
Profile Image
Jane Bacon-Fiori
Jane Bacon is an associate of the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art. She edited theater books, popular history, novels, and travel books for the London publisher Eyre Methuen for several years before moving to Italy. Jane lives in the little-known corner of Tuscany called the Lunigiana, where she continues to teach, write, and study Anglo-American writers who spent most of their lives in Tuscany.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Profile Image of Umberto Cattani
Umberto Cattani
Umberto Cattani is a licensed group leader in Florence, Carrara and the Cinque Terre, and has been working with the Trinity College for 15 years. After completing his studies in accounting, Umberto worked in Parma as a sales manager for a clothing manufacturer. At the start of the new millennium, he discovered his real passion for guiding, and completed the required courses in art history, archaeology and history to achieve his new goal. Umberto lives in Carrara with his wife and daughter.
Profile Image of Olivia Fiori
Olivia Fiori
Olivia Fiori has spent most of her life living in Tuscany apart from a period in England where she attended the University of London and earned a degree in French and Spanish literatures. During her childhood and since she returned to Italy, she has helped run her parents’ bed and breakfast, cooking many of the local dishes for their clients — in particular, those dishes of the so-called Cucina Povera which have now become part of the traditional Tuscan cuisine in many restaurants.
Profile Image of Michela Ceccarini
Michela Ceccarini
Michela Ceccarini has a passion for foreign languages and cultures, but particularly enjoys sharing the wonders of Genoa, Italy, with lifelong learners from around the world. A Road Scholar group leader for nearly a decade, Michela is also the founder of Genova Insieme, an association that organizes cultural events in Genoa, educational activities for schools and excursions to art cities in Italy. In addition, she also consults in foreign public relations for companies and accompanies Italian groups to Scandinavia.
Profile Image of Franco Ressa
Franco Ressa
Franco Ressa enjoys his work as an environmental guide in the Apuan Alps and Cinque Terre National Parks, introducing visitors to the history and natural beauty of Liguria and Tuscany. Born in a city and raised by the sea Franco has chosen to live in close contact with nature in the Lunigiana hills above La Spezia. He and his wife run a small farm. His hobbies include hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, gardening, and playing guitar.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking up to four miles a day; elective hiking opportunities. Extended standing during site visits with limited or no public seating. Uneven terrain, limited public handrails, unavoidable stairs, marble and terracotta flooring, cobblestones, steep inclines, loose gravel, dirt paths. Expect crowded conditions in pedestrian centers and museums. Program-related travel and transfers will be via bus and boat.
Small Group (13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List (9 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call 800-454-5768
Enroll with Confidence
Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.






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