In its prime hundreds of years ago, Camogli was one of the major ports of the Ligurian coast, offering a harbor to over 700 vessels. Today this tranquil fishing village, with its colorful facades, seems centuries removed from the bustling port of Genoa, just 25 miles to the north.

Settle into the 16^th-century villa and Hotel Cenobio dei Dogi, explore town, and meet for a welcome cocktail on the terrace before enjoying a lovely dinner overlooking the sea.

This morning, our walk traverses the National Nature Park of the Portofino Promontory high above Camogli. Shoulder high ferns line our path as we begin our long, gentle descent toward Portofino itself. Well before our arrival in this very exclusive port, we begin to pass small farmhouses and, further along, beautiful villas.

In Portofino you will have plenty of time to explore before lunch at an outdoor cafe with a stunning view of the yachts in the bay. Next we’ll stroll to the lighthouse and castle before boarding our private boat to return to Camogli.

Dinner this evening is at our favorite trattoria in a small village in the hills high above Camogli.

Our day begins with a walk among the gardens surrounding Camogli to the sanctuary village of St. Rocco, offering a spectacular view of the coastline from Camogli beneath us to Genoa in the distance. Our destination is the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, nestled in a small bay at the water’s edge and only accessible on foot or by boat. The abbey, which spans the width of the bay, dates back to the year 711. It is a magical environment.

Grilled lobster and shrimp is a great choice at our lunch spot here. In the afternoon, you may continue along the shoreline path to Portofino or return directly by boat to Camogli for a little relaxation or a dip in the pool.

We are off to the Cinque Terre today! Our walk begins just above Levanto where we pass ancient buildings and charming villas that line the hillside. As we wander high above the water, we eventually pass through small forests of oak and pine as the path takes us up to the site of the ancient lighthouse of St. Antonio. From this vantage point, we can see all five of the villages of the Cinque Terre stretching into the distance, a beautiful glimpse of walks to come.

We will enjoy a late lunch here at what may seem to be an unusual choice of locales. The restaurant nestles directly under a railway trestle and may shake a bit when trains pass. This is the locals’ choice, however, with the freshest, most abundant antipasti in town!

In the afternoon, there will be ample time to explore the town or relax on the terrace of our hotel, the Porta Roca, which is perched on a rock shelf above the sea.

From Monterosso, we will explore the other villages of the Cinque Terre. This is one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in Italy. As we hike up out of Monterosso, we pass through an abundance of vineyards and olive groves that cling to the steeply terraced hillsides. As we continue, the terrain becomes too steep to cultivate, and the views become truly breathtaking.

When our path turns around the Punta Lina, we have a wonderful vantage point of the tiny harbor of Vernazza below. From here, chiseled stone steps lead down into the colorful waterside piazza where we will have lunch. If we haven’t yet tried “Muscoli Ripieni,” or mussels stuffed with meat, cheese and bread, this could be a great opportunity. Now, the other villages of the Cinque Terre await!

Our destination is one of the southernmost points in Liguria. From Riomaggiore, we first travel through the last extremities of Liguria’s vineyards leading us to the crest of the hill separating La Spezia from the Mediterranean. Here we traverse tall forests of pine to the tiny hamlet of Campiglia. Then we descend slowly through spectacular rock formations into Portovenere. Enjoy a lovely harborside lunch and explore this rustic village where Lord Byron was so inspired.

Next we board a boat that will take us slowly along the coast, passing all of the villages of the Cinque Terre. The cruise offers a spectacular overview of the trails we have walked throughout the week.

This evening we will enjoy a special dinner to celebrate our week together. The grand buffet perfected by the culinary staff of our hotel will seal in our hearts the best of the Cinque Terre.

Enjoy your last morning in Monterosso before your departure. Monterroso has hourly train departures in both directions along the coast.

Whatever your travel plans, we will go over them with you and make sure that your continuing journey is as easy and effortless as possible.

Arrivederci!