Liguria is one of the loveliest and most startlingly picturesque regions of Italy. The coast here is divided into Riviera di Ponente (west of Genova) and Riviera di Levante (east of Genova). Riviera di Levante is home to captivating seaside villages such as Rapallo, Santa Margherita, and Camogli. Further south is the simply darling Cinque Terre hamlets of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, not forgetting beautiful Portovenere just below the Cinque Terre.
Genova has the nearest international airport, Italy’s largest port, and a beautiful medieval center. The coastline is breathtaking, with pastel-colored villages crowned with medieval churches and abbeys rising on dramatic rocky outcrops, and vineyards and olive groves descending vertically down to the sparkling turquoise sea. Lush pine forests hug the coastline, shading the many trekking paths between villages.
The jewel of the Riviera di Levante is the charming village of Portofino and the base for this luxurious food and wine-focused tour. You will stay at the most elegant hotel in Portofino, a once in a lifetime experience. On your private catamaran, you will explore alluring villages and inlets only reachable by sea. You will dine at an array of “ristoranti” and “trattorie,” from elegant to cozy and traditional- many with stunning views. Ligurian cuisine is the epitome of the Mediterranean diet and characterized by its use of fresh herbs and vegetables such as basil, bay leaves, fennel, marjoram, zucchini (courgette), eggplant (aubergine), seafood (anchovies, fish soups, cuttlefish, mussels, octopus, sea bass) and of course extra virgin olive oil and fragrant wines.
Local specialties of the area include Focaccia Alla Genovese (delicious flatbread), Focaccia di Recco (with fresh cheese), Pansoti (pocket pasta filled with herbs, and vegetables) and trofie pasta, Pesto alla Genovese, chickpeas tart (called farinata). Learn more about Ligurian cooking in your private cooking class this short break. Wine, as always, is a focus on our tours, and you will have the chance to visit a beautiful winery inland from the charming town of Lerici. Here you will discover sparkling wines aged in the abyss of Ligurian sea and taste the fabulous local Sciacchetrà wines produced in Cinque Terre. Are you looking for luxury, pampering, and excellent food and wine? Contact us for more information on this fantastic tour of Portofino.
Signature journey
Highlights include Ultra Luxurious Hotel Portofino, Private Boat Tour, Cooking Class Cinque Terre, and Wine Tasting Italian Riviera.
Day 1Genova - Recco – Camogli - Portofino
Dine overlooking the harbor in Portofino
Arrive at Genova airport and meet your private driver who will drive you into the historical center where with your art guide, you will enjoy a walking tour. Learn all about Genova’s ancient maritime legends and stories. Visit the graceful Palazzo Ducale and Royal Palace, the impressive Church of Saint Matteo, Christopher Columbus’s house, the Unesco Heritage site Rolli palaces, and the beautiful Dominican Santa Maria di Castello convent.
Stop in Recco, where you will taste the famous local focaccia at a historic restaurant and then carry on to the little postcard-perfect village of Camogli. In the afternoon, transfer to Portofino, and check into your glamorous hotel, home to movie stars, and royalty. The rest of the day is yours to get settled in, relax, do some shopping (Portofino’s tiny Piazzetta is lined with designer boutiques and luxurious shops). Another option is to go for a refreshing walk to the marvelous San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte abbey (located in a beautiful carved inlet, and with a fascinating history as a pirates’ lair). In your sea-facing bedroom, you will find our welcome pack, with gifts, maps, and course a bottle of wine.
We suggest you enjoy dinner tonight at your hotel’s candlelit terrace. Welcome to La Dolce Vita!
Day 2Portofino – Sestri Levante – Monterosso – Rapallo - Portofino
Pesto making demonstration
Today you will meet some wines of Liguria Riviera di Levante. Start with a wine producer in Sestri Levante. After the tour of the wine cellar, you will taste a full range of white, rosè, and red wines, and you will have the chance to sample also Abissi, the sparkling wines whose second fermentation takes place under the sea, at 60 meters depth.
Savor lunch in a traditional restaurant, hosted in the storehouse of Palazzo Federici, constructed in 1480. The family who owns and runs the restaurant has its fishing boat, and since the 1960s, many celebrities came here to taste the freshest fish ever, from Brigitte Bardot to Rod Stewart.
Transfer to Monterosso, to Cinque Terre, where you will enjoy a visit and tasting at a local winery, producing Cinque Terre doc and Sciacchetrà (the most famous and rare wine in the area), olive oil, honey, and lemons. Visit the vineyards, the lemon gardens, and the tiny cellar.
Next, you will have some free time to enjoy the gorgeous hamlet of Monterosso. On the way back to Portofino, you will stopover in Rapallo. Here while sipping local sparkling wine and nibbling on focaccia, you get to enjoy a “pesto show,” an exciting demonstration of how to prepare pesto sauce using a mortar and pestle.
Once back to the hotel, enjoy a free evening. Try dinner at Da Puny, where the jet-setters relax and take in the views of the yachts.
Day 3Portofino - Portovenere – Cinque Terre - Castelnuovo Magra -Portofino
Bella Vernazza, , Cinque Terre
This morning you will head south towards the delightful Golfo dei Poeti, or “Poet’s Gulf.” Do not forget the camera today! Visit medieval Portovenere, located right at the tip of the Peninsula that encloses this coastline. The surrounding area is full of colorful towns such as Tellaro, Lerici, and Fiascherino and enchanting tiny bays.
From Portovenere, enjoy a private boat tour to Cinque Terre, admiring the world’s most scenic coastline! You will have a light lunch on board, including wine, of course, and stop in the sensational village of Vernazza.
Next, head to Castelnuovo Magra and enjoy a visit and tasting at a beautiful winery that also has an impressive wine museum and herbs liqueurs production. The Colli di Luni appellation is famous for delicate and aromatic Vermentinos made from grapes grown on its gently rolling hills.
Day 4Portofino - Genova
Buon Viaggio!
This morning, with your chef, you will learn how to make Liguria’s most famous dishes- from focaccia to salsa di noci (creamy walnut sauce) to hand made trofie pasta. Sit down to lunch of your creations.
This afternoon, at your preferred time, your chauffeured Mercedes will arrive to take you back to the airport in Genova. If you had more time available, we could propose a multitude of activities in Portofino, the Cinque Terre, and surrounding Riviera, or Northern Tuscany. Drop off at the airport. Arrivederci!
Cellar Tours private itineraries include chauffeur-led transportation, carefully selected hotels, winery appointments, restaurant planning, and practical support before and during your journey.
Depending on the destination and proposal, your tour may also include private guides, tastings, special experiences, cultural visits, regional transfers, and dining reservations.
Your custom proposal will clearly show what is included, what is optional, and what is not included.
Our custom itineraries include chauffeur-led transportation, carefully selected hotels, private winery appointments & tastings, restaurant planning, and support before and during your travel.
International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses, optional spa treatments, gratuities and meals or tastings not listed in your itinerary are usually not included unless specifically stated.
All itineraries are private and pre-arranged for your party.
Yes, 100%. Share mobility considerations, allergies, dietary preferences, and pacing needs early so we can adapt hotels, transport, restaurants, and visits wherever possible.
