Discovery Italy

Day 1: SARZANA
Arrival in Milan or Genoa, welcome by Discover Italy Now Tour Leader, transfer to Sarzana and after check-in at 3* Hotel, lunch and refreshments you start your adventure biking in the old town together with your tour leader.
You are going to visit:
-the ancient palaces in Piazza Matteotti and Via Mazzini
-the remains of a building that used to belong to Buonaparte family
-the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, built by the most important local artists between the fourteenth and seventeenth century
If you are going to be here in August you can visit the Wine Fair.

Evening: relax, walks and a good dinner in a restaurant with dishes of the delicious Ligurian cuisine

Day 2 : SARZANA – CASTELNUOVO MAGRA 9 km by bike
After a rich breakfast you start your bike tour that takes to Castelnuovo Magra, an ancient Ligurian town with many interesting and nice corners and important from wine producing point of view.
After a gastronomic adventure in a restaurant tasting typical dishes of the Ligurian cuisine, you visit Enoteca Regionale Ligure, located in the lower saloon of the Town Hall and exposes all the wines produced on the Riviera.
This visit offers a comprehensive overview of the wine production in the region.You are going to admire the rococo façade of the Oratorio dei Bianchi, the square of the parish church dating back to the late Renaissance with an interior created with Carrara marble and where can be found many art works

Evening: Relax and walk in the countryside.
Accommodation in 3* Hotel or B&B

Day 3:
SARZANA- LUNI 9 km by bike
LUNI – LA SPEZIA 31 km by bike
Wine tasting and local gastronomic products
The morning starts biking in your own pace on a plain pathway surrounded by a beautiful landscape towards the coast and the ancient roman city, Luni. RefreshmentThe itinerary continues then towards la Spezia crossing vineyards, olive groves and beautiful areas of orchards.
At arrival, a visit to a local winery, is on the schedule. We strongly recommended the wines: Cinqueterre and Cinqueterre Sciacchetrà as well as some delicious ligurian dishes: anchovies in salt, flour, mes-ciua la spungata, a typical dessert of the Sarzana area in the province of La Spezia.
You also visit the Castle of St. George and the Cathedral, built in Romanesque style and then you have as an option to choose between: a visit to the Naval Museum or to the Archaeological Museum.

Evening: a bar with local live music.
Accommodation in 3* Hotel or B&B

Day 4:
LA SPEZIA – RIOMAGGIORE 13 km by bike
RIOMAGGIORE – MANAROLA 5,5 km by bike
Wine tasting and local gastronomic products
The morning starts with a new biking tour towards Riomaggiore, 300 m above the sea level. The town marks the entrance to the Gulf of Cinque Terre and from the panoramic road can be admired the coast that appears in all its beauty.
You bike along a spectacular setting and cross an amphitheatre of vineyards, orchards and find in Riomaggiore the main wine production center of the area.

Lunch in a restaurant where you have the chance to taste the dishes of the area of Cinque Terre.
You continue the afternoon biking towards Manarola after having crossed the lovely promenade called the "Love Road", carved into the rock overlooking the sea.
Charming streets and alleys to bike on in the beautiful Manarola.

Evening: Dinner and wine tasting in a historical cellar.
Accommodation in 3* Hotel or B&B

Day 5: MANAROLA – CORNIGLIA 12 km by bike
Your itinerant biking tour continues towards Corniglia, passing through beautiful landscapes, vineyards and breathtaking landscapes
You get up to 100 m above sea level, even if the sea is a bit away from the village, at the bottom of 360 steps.
After lunch in a local restaurant are going to be visited:
-the ruins of the ancient fortificationold castlechurch of San Pietro
-the Sanctuary of San Bernardino, located on the hill above Corniglia

Evening: Dinner in trattoria
Accommodation at 3* Hotel or B & B

Day 6: CORNIGLIA – VERNAZZA 9,5 km by bike
Wine tasting in local cellar
Your biking itinerary on Riviera continues with a itinerary to Vernazza, a charming medieval town, the only one of Cinque Terre to have a small port.
You will find here a unique atmosphere and narrow alleys that lead to the terraced vineyards. You absolutely have to taste the white wine Vernaccia...
The itinerary schedule also includes a visit to:
-Church Santa Margherita di Antiochia,
-Tower located on a spur of rock
-Sanctuary of Nosatra Signora di Reggio.

Evening: a promenade walk.
Accommodation in 3* Hotel or B&B

Day 7: VERNAZZA – MONTEROSSO AL MARE 13 km by bike
Your morning begins with a biking tour to the most populous town in Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare, where after a walk in the beautiful nature, you are going to visit the old part of the town, the seaside called Fegina, dominated by the famous statue Gigante “holding up on it’s shoulders” the terrace of a villa that represents the god of the sea, Neptune, that is also a symbol of Monterosso.
You also visit:
-the church of San Giovanni Battistaconvent and Capuchin church of San Francesco
-the shrine of Madonna di Soviore, built in the early middle ages.
All these monuments are situated 400 m above sea level.

Evening: Another wonderful culinary experience is going to be in store for you before the end of the program on Riviera Ligure. Fish dishes and relax