Genoa Shore Excursion - This is the most popular tour for first time visitors to the Liguria region. You visit the port city of Genoa, a small fishing village and the beautiful resort town of Portofino.

After meeting your guide you drive into the city of Christopher Columbus. Your first stop is at the panoramic terrace of Castelletto where you enjoy views over the historical center of Genoa, the port and the Lanterna (lighthouse) which is considered the symbol of the city.

Next you'll enjoy a walking tour of the old town starting at the House of Columbus near the medieval gate of Porta Soprana. You visit the popular square called Piazza De Ferrari which is the contemporary heart of the town and includes the Carlo Felice Opera House and some beautiful fountains. You also see the Ducale Palace, with its neoclassical facade, which was the seat of the government of the Republic of Genoa.

Then you walk to the Piazza San Matteo, the best preserved example of a medieval residential quarter. San Matteo was the square of the Doria family area, and still maintains most of its medieval look, including beautiful palaces, porticoes, and traditional black and white striped facades.

Churches seen include Saint Andreas, which is considered a masterpiece of Genovese baroque architecture, the most important period in Genovese art and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. Built in the 13th century, it is a good example of gothic architecture. Several renovations throughout the ages have also left their mark, and with the variety of art shown one next to the other your visit gives you a virtual course in Italian Art history.

Later this morning you drive to Camogli, a very typical fishing village on the Tigullio coast. The houses painted in strong colors will make you think that you have stepped into your favorite painting. You have free time here to enjoy a Ligurian lunch (meal not included). We recommend some of the local specialties such as pasta col pesto, an absolute must if you enjoy pesto, focaccia di Recco or any of the local fish dishes.

After lunch you drive to Portofino where your guide leads you on a walking tour. Portofino has long been and still remains a capital of high society and the jet set, but it is also so much more than that. It is a bay and village of astonishing beauty with an important natural pier. It offers lush Mediterranean hillside forests and a charming village loaded with and history and beauty. Portofino began as a Phoenician port, then was ruled by Rome and finally served the Republic of Genoa. It is a cultural meeting point and has been loved by writers and philosophers who have lived here.

Your walking tour of Portofino includes the Oratory of Santa Maria Assunta, where it is possible to see the traditional Cristi, a huge Crucifix that is carried through the town by the faithful during religious processions. You will also visit the church of San Giorgio on top of the promontory, with its extraordinary view down onto the village. You will walk to the lighthouse, through the verdant Regional Park and up to a terrace outlook facing the tranquil Tigullio Gulf. By the time you have finished your guided tour you too will understand why this place is so highly regarded and famous the world over.

Later this afternoon you return to Genoa.

Mobility: NO wheelchairs