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Mountains & RivieraWalk amid secret peaks & on the Ligurian Coast
Rugged and wild, and coated in majestic woodland of chestnut, beech and oak, the Apennines are Italy's secret mountains and a paradise for walkers. Far below, on the west coast, the Ligurian Riviera is much better known, yet there are still trails high above the coast that remain a well-kept secret and reward you with inspirational views across the glittering sea. The ApenninesYour first four nights are spent in the heart of the mountains at the village of Lizzano in Belvedere, where you stay at the 3-star Hotel Il Fondaccio. This friendly hotel is typical of the authentic inns in this region, with attentive owner Giorgio Gasparini offering warm and genuine hospitality. We include bedrooms with a terrace and view, as well as dinners of delicious Emilian cuisine in the hotel restaurant on three of your four nights. To ring the changes, we give you the opportunity to enjoy dinner and a wine tasting at a local restaurant (also included) on the remaining night. We provide route notes for three walks, all within a short drive of the hotel, and arrange a transfer to the start of the first walk on your first day. Mount Belvedere & the Freedom Path: after the arranged transfer, you ascend to the summit of Mount Belvedere, so named because it offers a 360-degree panorama of the Apennines. Part of the route is along the ‘Freedom Path’ that commemorates the heroism and sacrifice of the local resistance fighters and American troops who fought the Germans here. (12km, 5hrs) The Cancellino Pass: you have a steady ascent to the Cancellino Pass, where many migrating birds can be seen at the right time of year. If you are feeling energetic, you can detour to the summit of Mount Gennaio, which overlooks both Tuscany and Emilia Romagna (you are close to the border here). The return leg descends across the high pastures of the western flank of the Corno alle Scale, following an ancient mule track. (17km, 5.5hrs) Corno alle Scale: another high-level walk that rewards you with breathtaking views as you walk between passes and along panoramic crests. It takes in the summit of the Corno alle Scale, the highest of the Apennine peaks (1,944 metres), and the rounded peak of La Nuda before descending through beech woods. (19km, 7hrs) The Ligurian CoastThe drive from the Apennines to the Ligurian Coast takes 2.5 hours. Here you stay three nights on the edge of Camogli, a handsome coastal town with tall, brightly painted houses so typical of Liguria. The 4-star Hotel Cenobio dei Dogi overlooks the sea – we include standard garden view rooms but you can upgrade to a sea view room or superior sea view room to make your stay all the more special. The excellent facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, private beach, elegant bar, large sitting room and superb restaurant (pay locally if you choose to dine here). If you can tear yourselves away from the comforts of the hotel, we suggest three walks in the surrounding area – one on the Portofino Peninsula and two that explore paths high above Monterosso and Manorola, two of the five villages which give the Cinque Terre ('Five Lands') National Park its name. These are much less used than the famous Path of the Cinque Terre and allow you to discover the ‘real’ Cinque Terre, where mountains tumble into the sea. The Portofino Peninsula: paths lead from Camogli through cultivated terraces planted with olive groves and then through woodland of holm oaks and chestnuts. You descend through more olive groves to Portofino, where you catch the boat (pay locally) for the thrilling – and very scenic – trip along the coast to San Fruttuoso, framed by wooded hills. Take time to visit the attractive abbey (which is only accessible by foot or by boat) and to enjoy a swim before the walk back to Camogli. (15km, 6-7hrs, including stops) The Cinque Terre: a challenging but thrilling circular walk leads inland from Monterosso to two chapels which boast astonishing views across the terraced slopes to the sea. The route then takes you across several small valleys, through woodland and vineyards, before zigzagging steeply down to the very traditional Cinque Terre village of Vernazza from where you follow the main coastal path back to Monterosso. (15km, 7hrs) Views of Corsica: a shorter walk in the Cinque Terre starts in Manarola and ascends stone stairways through olive groves to the hill-top village of Volastra to pick up a path that leads across steeply terraced vineyards towards the smallest Cinque Terre village, Corniglia. The views throughout the walk stretch for miles – you can even see Corsica on a clear day. You can return to Manarola by train (pay locally) or on foot along the Path of the Cinque Terre (entrance fee payable) to make a circular route. (5km, 2hrs or 8km, 3hrs) Prices & travel 2008:
Recommended destination airport: Pisa Extra night prices:
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The rugged Apennine Mountains 
