ETAPS 2001

TOURIST ACTIVITIES

EXCURSIONS

Saturday 31.03.01: THE MAGIC OF THE PORTOFINO COAST – full day

h. 09:00 departure from Piazza della Vittoria for a coach trip to the Tigullio Gulf and its famous resorts: Rapallo, Santa Margherita, Portofino – the VIPs’ “buen retiro”, a unique gem set in the naturalistic jewel of Portofino promontory.

With favourable weather and sea conditions, continuation by boat to San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte, an 11^th-century abbey and monastery surrounded by fishermen’s houses and the defence tower of the Doria family, which can be reached only by boat.

h. 13:00 lunch at San Fruttuoso.

h. 15:00 continuation by boat to the Paradise Gulf and Camogli – “the village of the thousand white sails” – famous in the past for its seafaring and ship-building culture, today one of the most picturesque resorts of the Eastern Riveira, protected by a castle on the peer and characterised by old multi-storey houses in the typical Ligurian colours.

After tasting the unique cheese “focaccia” with a glass of local white wine, return to Genoa by coach.

Note: In case of rough sea, the whole trip will be by coach: instead of San Fruttuoso, the itinerary will include Ruta, a bunch of houses hidden among the olive trees overlooking the gulf.

Tuesday 03.04.01: AS ABOVE – half day

h. 09:00 departure from Piazza della Vittoria for a coach trip to the Tigullio Gulf and its famous resorts: Rapallo, Santa Margherita, Portofino – the VIPs’ “buen retiro”, a unique gem set in the naturalistic jewel of Portofino promontory.

Return trip along the Via Aurelia, flanking the coast and passing by Ruta, Camogli and the minor towns until Genoa, with a typical snack along the way.

Thursday 05.04.01: THE PARADISE GULF – full day

h. 09:00 departure from Piazza della Vittoria for a coach trip to Camogli, the heart of the Paradise Gulf once known as “the village of the thousand white sails”. It was famous in the past for its seafaring and ship-building culture; today it is one of the most picturesque resorts of the Eastern Riviera, protected by a castle on the peer and characterised by old multi-storey houses in the typical Ligurian colours.

Boat excursion to Porto Pidocchio – one of the smallest registered harbours in the world – and San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte, an 11^th-century abbey and monastery surrounded by fishermen’s houses and the defence tower of the Doria family, which can be reached only by boat.

Return to Camogli and, by coach, to Genoa, with a stop at Recco to taste the typical cheese “focaccia” and one at Nervi, the eastern limit of Genoa, characterised by an uninterrupted succession of three parks flanking the sea and a panoramic promenade on the cliffs.

Thursday 05.04.01: THE ROAD OF THE BLACK STONE – half day

h. 14:00 departure from Piazza della Vittoria for a coach trip to Chiavari and the Fontanabuona Valley, to get in touch with the “slate civilisation” through the visit of old quarries converted into an “ecomuseum” and the possibility of purchasing slate handicraft.

During the return trip, visit of San Salvatore di Cogorno, a fief of the Genoese Fieschi family, with the 13^th-century architectural treasures of the church and the palace.

Friday 06.04.01: SWEETWATER = …GOOD WINE – full day

h. 08:30 departure from Piazza della Vittoria for a coach trip to the medieval towns and villages of Val Nervia, not far from the French border, among which Dolceacqua (literally: Sweetwater) is dominated by the 12^th/15^th-century Doria Castle and connected to the opposite mountain by a beautiful medieval bridge, Apricale offers an incredible view and important romanesque monuments, while Pigna, which has not changed its original aspect through the centuries, is a puzzle of dark and steep narrow lanes, covered by the overlaying houses.

h. 13:30 lunch at Rocchetta Nervina with the typical dishes of the western Ligurian hinterland.

Eno-gastronomic shopping at Dolceacqua in a typical old shop with cave, and return to Genoa.

Sunday 08.04.01: THE POETS’ GULF AND THE CINQUE TERRE

h. 08:30 departure from Piazza della Vittoria for a coach trip to Portovenere, in the Gulf of La Spezia, a charming resort of Roman origin, then a stronghold of the Genoese (as testified by the imposing castle), and finally beloved dwelling of the English romantic poets Byron and Shelley. One of the most picturesque villages of the Ligurian coast, with a small romanesque-gothic church clung to a rocky promontory on the sea, Portovenere combines art and history with the colourful and lively atmosphere of a typical fishermen’s village.

Boat excursion to the Cinque Terre, five villages incredibly set on the rocky coast, with a stop at Riomaggiore or Vernazza (if allowed by weather and sea conditions) for lunch and local wine tasting.

Return to Genoa by coach.

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VISITS

Monday 02.04.01: GENOA AND THE SEA

h. 14:30 guided visit of the largest Aquarium in Europe and of the Sea and Sailing Pavillion in the Old Port.

Boat tour of the harbour; ascent to the lighthouse, if open.

Tuesday 03.04.01: GENOA IN THE MIDDLE AGES

h. 14:30 guided visit to the oldest part of the town, following the typical narrow lanes of the largest medieval centre in Europe, among aristocratic mansions, pictoresque shops, beautiful churches and imposing towers which “jump out” suddenly to the visitor’s eyes like breathtaking surprises from the general grey of slate. Starting from the church of San Giovanni di Pré and the adjacent Commenda – former hospital belonging to the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre – monuments like Torre Embriaci, Santa Maria di Castello, Sant’Agostino, San Donato, San Matteo and San Lorenzo are the fundamental stops before reaching the Towers of Porta Soprana, Sant’Andrea’s cloister and the house where C. Columbus spent his youth.

h. 18:00 refreshments at the Porta Soprana Towers, one of the gates of the walls built to defend the city against Frederick “Red Beard”, and departure for a walk in the old town through the places haunted by the characters and witnesses of the history of Genoa. Surprises round any corner in the narrow lanes, while light vanishes and the devil’s breath freezes the visitors’ blood or a group of witches dances a sabbath in a courtyard.

Wednesday 04.04.01: GENOA IN ITS GOLDEN AGE

h. 14:30 guided visit of the palaces, churches and monuments erected during the centuries in which the Republic of Genoa was the first naval power in the Mediterranean Sea, lent money to all the sovereigns of Europe and hosted the greatest Flemish painters to enrich with masterpieces the houses of the noble families.

Tuesday 03 to Friday 06.04.01: GENOA AND ITS MUSEUMS

h. 15:00 and h. 17:00 guided visits of the following museums: Palazzo Rosso / Palazzo Bianco / Palazzo Spinola di Pellicceria / Palazzo Reale / Accademia Ligustica di Belle Arti / Villa Croce (modern art) / Chiossone (japanese art).

Late bookings can be accepted at the Convention Bureau desk not later than 24 hours before the visit, and for groups of at least 20 people.