|
Our Extended
Tour Page is designed to give you an in depth look at a tour.
With more pictures and an extended description, you can get a better feel
for what the tour truly offers.
We want it
to be:
"The best vacation you've ever had".
******
THE ITALIAN RIVIERA - Monte-Carlo
to Portofino
Liguria, Tuscany, The Ligurian & Tyrrhenian
Seas
 "The eye is caught
, the attention held by the serpentine contours of the coastline: By the
Ligurian Alps, by the glamour and color of the resorts, the stately yachts
against the skyline and the grandiose view across the Gulf of Genoa from a
hairpin turn on the highway."
 Two
of the most illustrious cities in the world serve as bookends to one of
the four most beautiful roads on Earth. In a class with The Great Ocean
Road of South Australia, the road around the cape in South Africa and
portions of Hwy 101 in California, the Italian Riviera is probably more
spectacularly beautiful than all the rest. Especially when viewed at bike
speed with no top to impede the view. The scent of flowers permeate the
air, this is known, after all as the "Flower basket of Europe"...
the wind off the sea in your face... beautiful wide beaches that seem to
go on forever... and always the deep azure color of the Mediterranean
constantly on your right.
 The
Italian Riviera is beauty itself. It ranges from the quaint, colorful village
in a glorious cove - untouched by the centuries -to the lively tourist and
gambling center.
The land changes
constantly from wide sandy beaches to sheer cliffs, the mountains booming down
to the sea.
The cycling can get difficult. Tour
members may occasionally opt for our support vehicle.
 We'll
be cycling just a few miles most days. - taking life easy and playing... on the
water... in grottos under the sea... soaking up the
Ligurian sun on vast beaches... sailing... diving...
walking... absorbing this special sun-touched place, surely, painted by the
gods. Each day new, different, uniquely yours.
We begin at Monte-Carlo among its stately
villas and legendary casino and cross the border to the Italian Riviera, cycling
three countries in a single morning.
 Pedal
along the Aurelian Way, once used by Julius Caesar and named after his
mother, the coastline all the way to Portofino is threaded on this
ancient wiggly route, through towns of seaside promenades smothered in flowers
and exotic foliage... golden beaches... crystalline blue waters of incredible
clarity... towns of many-hued buildings... rising hills leading to astonishing seaside
views... shores touched by Dante, Petrarch, Velasquez, Caravaggio,
Tintoretto... "Christ of the Depths." off of San Fruttouso... Roman
bridges and amphitheaters.... the cliff walk at Nervi, chiseled from solid
rock... villas dotting the hills and lining the seaside promenade...
 San
Remo - old, beautiful, sophisticated with a casino and every activity
imaginable... tons of fresh flowers auctioned off each morning... truly the
"Flower Basket of Europe".
Genoa- like a huge amphitheater of marble
buildings cascading to the shore... ancient aristocratic streets...picturesque
corners.... the sea promenade... panoramic mountain roads.
The
hills begin to drop sharply to the sea, the curves in the road wind tighter
around sparkling little bays and inlets... less sedate... more rugged.
 Portofino - A place of extraordinary
beauty; cliffs plunging to the sea on either side of the narrow inlet where yachts
lie anchored.... brilliant blue water... clouds of flowers bedecking the
buildings that climb the heights... at night it is a little paradise. There
is only a handful of spots in the entire world of such concentrated beauty.
Seven
days of breathtaking beauty and marvelous fun... a farewell party surrounded
by a stunningly beautiful shoreline. A memorable setting for our final
nights celebration.
 And just across the bay lies the
famous Cinque Terre... five seaside villages isolated for centuries;
accessible only by train, by mule or by sea... very much as they have always
been... If
you can stay for a few more days, there is a ferry that will take you to
experience something of the past... or, if you prefer, Florence, Milan and
Nice are all only a few hours away...
Departs:
June 15-21, Aug 30 - Sep 6
Inn Tour - 7 Days -
$3290
OVERNIGHT
ITINERARY
DAY
MILES
 1.
Monte-Carlo............................0
2. San
Remo.............................18
3.
Alassio...................... ...........20
4.
Savona.............. ........ .... .....20
 5.
Genoa.................... ..... ... ...27
6. San Margherita
Ligure........23
7. Tour
Ends after breakfast. ...0
Click here to see the detailed day
by day itinerary of this tour
PHOTO GALLERY
Click on a photo to enlarge it
|
