Explore the Riviera di Levante tracing the artistic legacy of the Italian city-states from Genoa to Pisa
Visit some of Italy’s most impressive architectural sites including Pisa’s baptistery and Campo Santo
Enjoy the picturesque towns and villages of the beautiful Italian coastline, including Portofino and Portovenere on the Cinque Terre
“We have been on many ACE tours and this one rates very highly. We stayed in and visited some beautiful and unusual places… An excellent week”
- ACE customer on a previous Riviera di Levante tour with Christopher Wellington
For centuries the maritime republics of Italy dominated the Mediterranean. These powerful city-states were fiercely competitive, and our tour will trace the history of their stormy rivalries as we make our way along the enchanting Riviera di Levante (‘coast of the rising sun’), travelling between Genoa and Pisa.
Genoa was one of the longest-lived of the maritime republics, its independence lasting until the threshold of the modern era. Today, the city’s historical heart preserves a fascinating labyrinth of medieval lanes and steps, studded with richly decorated churches and palaces, including the magnificent Cathedral of San Lorenzo.
We will travel down the spectacular Ligurian coastline, where picturesque towns cling to hillsides and reside in narrow valleys where the mountains meet the sea. The area of the Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage site in recognition of its combination of scenic beauty and human endeavour, and we will journey along the coast discovering Portofino and Portovenere.
The republic of Pisa fell to Genoa following the Battle of Meloria in 1284, but not before the city had developed one of the strongest architectural styles in Italy. Our visit here will explore the strong influence of classicism combined with medieval models, which culminated in the magnificent complex of the Piazza dei Miracoli surrounding the cathedral. Splendid works of art, such as the intricate Pisano pulpit, adorn these buildings.
We will stay in Santa Margherita Ligure at the Hotel Continental overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio; in Portovenere at the Hotel Paradiso; and in Pisa at the Hotel Bologna, a short walk from the historical centre.
This tour will be led by Christopher Wellington, MA, a graduate in history from Cambridge University. Christopher’s specialisms range from history and the Church through to the art and architecture of the Middle Ages. He has spent most of his career working in Italy, where he lives with his family in Piacenza, and is informed on the many aspects of Italian life and the ways in which they connect with the country’s history and art.
8
£2895
RIVI-24
Fully booked - please contact us on 01223 841055 to be added to the waiting list.
Included: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, seven breakfasts, six dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £395.
