Latest Blog Posts — Page 3

A memorable vacation in the 5 Terre

Breathtaking views, remarkable villages, exciting paths, thrillingly beautiful landscapes, delicious food, qualified guides…do you want more reasons to visit 5 Terre and the National Park?

The sea, breathtaking landscapes, cliffs that plounge down dramatically into the sparkling blue water, charming villages, coloured houses are part of my life and my culture. A flexible and customized service to ensure you a unique experience all around the Province!

Join me now for a memorable vacation! Book a tour with a local native tour guide.

Put yourself in the hands of an expert.

Sarzana and its secrets

Did you know that originally the Bonaparte family hails from Sarzana? In the city archives a document dating back to 1529 contains information regarding Francesco Bonaparte, who moved to Ajaccio to serve the Republic of Genoa. From his descendants Napoleon was born.  The City is tightly linked to the figure of the leader and his family will be repeatedly guest of Sarzana in several occasions.

August 16th 1817 Marie Louise, Archduchess of Austria, arrived in the city. She became Empress of France after her marriage with Napoleon. Following the collapse of the Empire she changed her noble title into Duchess of Piacenza, Parma and Guastalla.

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Levanto is…

Spending a nice holiday in Levanto means not only having relaxing days at sea but also discovering a town rich in history, culture and food traditions.
Today I want to dwell on a typical Levanto delight, which you will find only in this area of ​​the Riviera di Levante: the “gattafin”.
A unique recipe of its kind, loved by children and grown up and it is true that one leads to another!
They are like Proust’s madeleines, every time I eat them I go back to my childhood and the days spent in the kitchen with my grandmother.
But what is the “gattafin”? It is a large ravioli stuffed with wild herbs prepared with the same procedure of herbs quiche, but the cottage cheese ( ricotta) is present in smaller quantities or absent, eventually fried in hot oil.
Perhaps the term comes from “Gattafura”, a fourteenth word which indicated recipes in which the vegetables were crushed by two layers of pasta. We have notice of them  already in cookbooks of the ‘400 and’ 500 and apparently they were  served to the rich lords.

Don’t wait any longer, come for a taste!

Cruising the Mediterranean, wishing a truly unique experience in the Cinque Terre.

Porto della Spezia

Cruising is the best way to discover the world and an amazing experience for the entire family! If you are onboard a cruise ship and La Spezia is one of your port of call don’t loose your time and book your private excursion with your local native Tour Guide!

Half day tours or Full day tours are available, tailor made tours for families, couples or small parties, cooking lessons, private boat tours, wine tasting and much more.

Discover La Spezia, Portovenere, Lerici, Sarzana from a different point of view, put yourself in the hands of an expert for a unique experience.

It’s Springtime in the Cinque Terre!

Cinque Terre are beautiful in every season, Spring is definitely the best if you love nature,  flowers and hiking . More daylight and a mild climate allow you to organize wonderful walks through the villages of the Cinque Terre and excursions along the trails of the National Park.
A day with a local tour guide at your disposal will give you the opportunity to discover our territory and have a taste of some typical Ligurian dishes.
A good glass of white wine DOC of the Cinque Terre, or a sip of Sciacchetrà is not to be missed!

All this awaits you in the Cinque Terre! Do not wait any longer, book your weekend or your daily excursion!

It’s Easter time! Visit the Cinque Terre and enjoy the new season!

Have you plan your vacation? Not yet? So what are you waiting for! Cinque Terre and its coastline is the best location to celebrate Easter with your family or friends. Every village solemnizes this festivity with processions, fairs, religious celebrations, holy representations all remembering the Passion.

A stay in the Cinque Terre is a unique opporunity to try some of our famous Easter cakes, such as the “Colomba”, a dove shaped dough topped with pearl sugar and almonds or our well known and very popular within the children chocolate easter eggs.

More than this, Spring is coming! The nature is waking up, flowers are blooming and a lovely warm weather is waiting for you. This is the best time of the season to discover our territory. You can spend a day browsing through the villages, sipping some local wines or maybe enjoying a nice cappuccino and croissant seated in a piazzetta.

 

Sip this….

Sciacchetra’ is a raisin wine from the Cinque Terre. One of the most known and precious of our territory. It’s a blend of three different grapes: Bosco, Albarola and Vermentino. Soon after the harvest the grapes are left to dry on well-ventilated racks until the concentration of natural sugars reaches a potential alcohol level of at least 17%. Doing this process the resulting wine will have intense and sweet flavors. Cinque Terre Sciacchetra wines are intensely colored, golden-yellow in their youth and turning to amber over the years. They offer aromas of honey and white blossoms, with hints of citrus.
Discover more about this wine and its history! Book a wine tasting tour and a walking tour through the vineyards of the Cinque Terre.

The importance of hiring Local Guides when travelling

I enjoy both leisure travel and professional travel, so I truly appreciate experiencing each place firsthand. While it’s sometimes straightforward, I also love delving into less touristy areas to gain more authentic and intimate insights into the countries I explore. Combining these experiences is made easier with the help of a local guide.

Despite being a guide myself, whenever I venture to a new city or country, I make it a point to engage a local guide. Their extensive knowledge, often spanning decades or even a lifetime, surpasses what you can find in a guidebook. Being able to interact with them, ask questions, and gain insights not only about the location but also about local customs and daily life is invaluable.

With a local guide, you can uncover hidden gems off the beaten path that many travellers miss out on. You get to absorb cultural and historical knowledge from a unique perspective, straight from someone who has lived it. Additionally, you have access to exclusive places and experiences that are not easily accessible alone. By being able to ask questions and even request personalized tours, the experience becomes truly enriching.

As Hilaire Belloc famously said, “We wander for distraction but we travel for fulfilment.” Having a Local Native Guide by your side truly enhances the fulfilment of every travel experience.

It’s winter time in the Cinque Terre!

presepe Manarola

The winter season is the perfect time to come and discover the beauty of our territory and the good food

IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME!

The tradition of the Nativity is renewed in Manarola also this year. Until the middle of January thousands of lights illuminate the hill of the Three Crosses in Manarola and they give life to the bigger Nativity Scene ever. A unique opportunity to visit the Cinque Terre and to spend an unforgettable Christmas!

TRADITIONS AND GOOD FOOD

Even in winter you can taste delicious dishes of the ligurian tradition. You won’t miss the famous Pandolce Genovese, an art of sweet bread done especially during Christmas, castagnaccio (chestnut cake), porridge and pancakes, frittelle filled with apple and ricotta cheese, accompanied as always by a glass of 5 Terre D.O.C. white wine or the well known Sciacchetra’. For all the food lovers we offer a half day tour, including a visit of a village and a wine tasting.

COOKING LESSONS

Impress your friends and family and come back home by showing them your skill in preparing our most famous sauces, pesto and walnut sauce! Local restaurateurs are available to show you all the ropes. Enjoy yourself preparing the pesto sauce with a mortar and a pestle, it will be a fun and memorable experience!

TREKKING IN THE CITY

A different way to discover the city of La Spezia. Join us for a walking tour which takes you outside the beaten paths and give you the opportunity to learn more about our history and traditions. The half day tour ends in a local restaurant where you can enjoy a glass of local wine such as some delicious appetizers.

 

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