We are traveling to Cinque Terre with a group, spending 3 nights and 2+ full days in late September in Monterosso. My husband and I plan to do some light hiking and sightseeing on the part day and one of the full days, but we have one full day to fill. We're all on our own for this day. We have no interest in swimming or hanging around a beach, and one full day of hiking is enough for us. We would like ideas for a day trip via train. We love history and architecture - and not really interested in Portofino. Other ideas would be appreciated. Genoa? Lucca? Pisa? After Cinque Terre, our group is heading to Florence and we'll also visit Venice and Siena so don't suggest these - and it is just this one day that we are looking for ideas to fill. Thanks!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16212 posts
Pisa is not what I would do. Since you're all headed to Florence, you can stop along the way. Pisa can be visited in a very short time. There isn't much to see beyond the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, where the cathedral, baptistery and leaning tower are.
Lucca is only 20 min from Pisa. Not sure if you have time to visit both on the way to Florence.
However you can probably devote more time to the coast and avoid being overwhelmed by history and art, since you also plan to go to Florence, Siena and Venice.
Close to Monterosso, you could head to Framura, another pretty village on the west of Monterosso, past Levanto and Bonassola. If you like to bike, between Framura and Levanto, on the path of a former railroad through the cliffs, there is an easy and flat bike path that was built on a former railroad.
Another wonderful way to use your extra day at the Cinque Terre, could be a boat excursion to the Gulf of Poets and Portovenere. That should take a good portion of the day. On the other side of the Gulf of La Spezia from Porto Venere, there are also two famous villages: Tellaro and Montemarcello.
http://borghipiubelliditalia.it/liguria/
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11840 posts
Porto Venere is lovely and the boat trip worthwhile.
http://www.apathtolunch.com/2014/09/portovenere-travel-guide-top-ten.html
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
Take the train to Genoa (Genova).
Posted by
OP
Twin Cities MN USA
7 posts
What good ideas! I think we'll do Portovenere. Hadn't even heard of it but I looked into it and it looks lovely.
Posted by
San Francisco, CA (USA)
560 posts
Lucca is among a handful of very underrated locations to visit, however, since you're going to pass through Lucca on the way to Florence, you may not be interested in back-tracking. IN any event, Lucca is a fantastic walled town that has a lot of charm. Next to Italy's big destinations, Lucca is right up there in that second-tier of places to visit. What it lacks in must-see sites, it has in spades that Italian charm that visitors wish to experience and feel. The big destinations are over-run, crowded and noisy, Lucca doesn't have that, from it's leisurely pathway on top of it's wall to it's narrow streets that shield you from the hot sun and allow you to experience that wandering feeling of an explorer.
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
Visiting the marble quarries at Carrara would be another option. It's about an hour train ride from Cinque Terre. Hiring a guide would add to the experience, and Rick's recommended guide Sara Paolini is excellent. She was our Carrara guide on a RS tour.
Posted by
5292 posts
With an interest in history, Genoa.