Sept.12-13, 2011 Cinque Terra Tour - and last full day in Florence

Way before leaving for Italy Peter and I decided we would book some kind of tour on Monday, as most of the major museums in Florence are typically closed. We decided that the opportunity to visit the legendary Cinque Terra in the Liguria region all in one day for 90€ each inclusive was too tempting to pass up. The Cinque Terra - "5 Lands" - is a string of coastal towns that for hundreds of years were only accessible to each other by water or footpath. They are all sited dramatically on rocky cliffs - as a good friend once said, "not a good place to live if you sleepwalk!".

"Modern" Cinque Terra is interconnected by railway but the footpaths still exist and are a huge draw for hikers and curious tourists. In 13 hours we bussed to Manarola, took a train to and had lunch in Corniglia, hiked 5k of Billy goat terrain to Vernazza, took a train to Monterosso, took a boat back to the first town of Riomaggiore, and walked back to our starting point of Manarola. But we were not done yet...we took the train to La Spezia and then finally boarded our bus to return to Florence. If this sounds ridiculously tiring it was! We decided the tour was targeted to 30-something ADD MTV-watchers who want to say that they were there, despite the fact there was absolutely zero time set aside to actually savor being there.

That said, we are very glad we had the chance, albeit frenetic, to visit such a unique part of the world.




Leaving Corniglia on the rugged trail






Descent from the trail into Vernazza - STEEP!





Refueling on the Monterosso local specialty - deep fried foccachia filled with melted cheese inside. I am not making this up! We split one - honest. Hoping to introduce it to State Fair next year.





Corniglia from our ferry boat ride



Tuesday is our last full day in Florence until we arrive back on September 23 at the end of our bike tour. We decided to visit the market behind Santa Croce and were delighted to find it very "local" and not as intimidating as the Central Market scene. We entered Santa Croce through the Leather Workshop and marveled at the gorgeous and extremely expensive leather creations. Santa Croce did not disappoint - Peter was very interested in the remnants of the Great Flood of the Arno in 1966 and we visited the tombs of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Rossini and Galileo - and 272 other notables stuck in the wall or buried under the floor!

Time to finish packing and head for the hills!





The cloister at Santa Croce basilica





The winner of June's favorite painting in Florence contest - the newly-restored: Bronzoni's "Christ Descending into Limbo". We were impressed and humbled at the cast of characters inhabiting Limbo - Adam and Eve, St. John the Baptist, Noah, David, the Good Thief, and many others who we really thought got a free pass into heaven! Doesn't bode well for the likes of us.





The current frontrunner in the smallest car competition - shorter length than some bikes in the rack next to it!





Our second dinner at the 4 Leone. We ordered another round of "Fiocchetti di Pera in Salsa di Taleggio e Asparagi". A most amazing taste treat - little sacks of pasta with a small chunk of pear inside and gathered at the top like a little gift bag! The sauce was a rich Alfredo with small pieces of asparagus. Even though I'm full I am salivating as I type! Great restaurant, our favorite in Florence.





The Ponte Vecchio looks more beautiful each night as we cross the Arno on our way back to our lodgings.

Ciao until Thursday!

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