Culinary Journey to Liguria Portofino, pesto and the pearls of the Riviera di Levante

Day 1: Switzerland – Rapallo

Travel through Ticino to the Riviera di Levante. In Rapallo, you check in at your hotel right on the promenade. Over a welcome drink, you can look forward to the days of culinary delights ahead.

Day 2: Cinque Terre

From Levanto, the train takes you to Manarola and Riomaggiore, where colourful houses nestle against steep cliffs and vineyard terraces. You then travel by boat along the rugged coastline to Monterosso with its old town and the Torre Aurora watchtower. In the evening, you dine at a local trattoria and enjoy Ligurian specialities.

Day 3: Camogli – Portofino

You travel by train to the fishing village of Camogli with its tall, colourful house fronts. At midday, you enjoy a picnic of various Ligurian focaccia specialities, including the famous focaccia col formaggio from nearby Recco. By boat, you continue to the secluded Bay of San Fruttuoso with its Benedictine abbey and on to glamorous Portofino. On the return journey to Rapallo, you can enjoy views from the water of the green, steep coastline of Monte di Portofino and the elegant villas along the shore.

Day 4: Sestri Levante – Lavagna

Sestri Levante enchants with the tranquil Baia del Silenzio. In a pesto-making class, you pound basil, pine nuts and Ligurian olive oil into authentic pesto alla genovese, and of course you then get to taste your homemade pasta straight away. To finish, you visit the impressive Basilica dei Fieschi in Lavagna.

Day 5: Genoa – Switzerland

In Genoa, you discover the winding old town, the magnificent Palazzi dei Rolli and the lively harbour. In the afternoon, you begin your journey home.