This itinerary takes you on an early autumn adventure into the charming villages of the Italian Riviera and the wilds of Northern Tuscany. We start with 3 nights in the colorful seaside village of Sestri Levante, where pastel colored houses line this sandy stretch of the Mediterranean Sea, which feels like the South of France and Italy had a baby. 

The area offers some of the freshest seafood and pesto imaginable; Oysters, mussels, whole roasted fish, shrimp and langostine. Crisp white wines, delicate Ligurian olive oil, lemons, and focaccia to die for. Cook with a cookbook author at her home in the mountains of Liguria and sip Cinque Terre wines at Buranco winery on the stunning terrace, overlooking Monterosso al Mare.

We'll move further south to the medieval walled city of Lucca for 4 nights and explore the historic center and the surrounding towns in the Garfagnana and walk across the "devil's bridge", Ponte della Maddelena, if you dare. Eat in Colonnata near the marble quarries where Michelangelo frequented to purchase marble for his Renaissance sculptures, and try the ancient dishes of Podenzana which haven't changed in centuries. Listen to live opera in Puccini's birthplace and get your hands dirty at a cooking classes focusing on cuisine of the mountains.  

We will pick you up at the Lucca train station and we will start heading to Sestri Levante. On the way we will stop for lunch and wine tasting at Buranco Winery just above Montorosso al Mare, one of the Cinque Terre villages.  After lunch we will check into Hotel Vis A Vis. Settle in and we'll have a welcome dinner together tonight in the village.

Stroll the colorful streets of the Italian Riviera and snack along the way on local street foods. Try a variety of the focaccia the region is famous for, pasta to at Fiorella, panzotti, fritto misto,  sweet Ligurian treats from adorable pastry shops and cocktails made with the local herbaceous gin, "Camugin".  In early evening we'll take the ferry to Santa Margherita Ligure for dinner. 

We'll head to the mountain top village of Leivi today to the home of a cookbook author and chef to make a variety of Ligurian street foods and the specialty snack, focaccia di Recco.  Enjoy the lunch on the terrace surrounded by wildflowers, sipping local wines while taking in the gorgeous view. Tonight dinner is on your own in Camogli.

Check out of the hotel and discover the wild area of Lunigiana  on our way to Lucca.  Lunigiana is on the border of 3 regions and is known for its medieval villages nestled in the mountains where the food hasn't changed in hundreds of years.  We'll have lunch at La Gavarina d'Oro to try panigacci di Podenzana, a flatbread cooked over a wood fire in terre cotta discs served with a variety of fillings. Souveneir tip: Pick up some Colline della Lunigiana extra virgin olive oil or local honey the area is known for.  Check into Il Pozzo di Santa Zita hotel in Lucca and relax before dinner at Il Bucco di San Antonio in the historic center tonight. The tordelli with meat ragu, a Luccese specialty, are highly suggested!

Get your hands dirty today at a cooking class at La Forestaria. Make fresh pastas and local Luccese specialties on this picture-perfect Tuscan farm.  This area is full of mystical stories and magical legends of dwarfs, witches, and other woodland creatures. Enjoy lunch al fresco and maybe even catch a glimpse of the mythical spirit that is said to live in the woods surrounding the property. (She is a kind creature they say, so don't worry!) . Dinner is on your own tonight in Lucca.

Explore Lucca's heart and soul today. Walk along the medieval walls which have protected the city for  centuries.  Along the way we will stop in a few unique churches, try some of the tastiest local foods like wood fired cecina, brigadine, torte d'erbe, pizza at a spot loved by Dante himself, and of course the sweet bread buccelato, decadent chocolates at Canipparoli, and gelato. Hear the story of the Torre d'Ore and visit Torre Giunigi, a tower with trees sprouting out of the very top. (Climb either or both towers if you wish.) Free time to shop and explore on your own. We'll meet for dinner together tonight after an opera performance in the church of San Giovanni. After all, Lucca is the birthplace of Puccini. 

The Garfagnana is a wild place. It is an area which is part of the Apuan Alps, and home to the village of Carrara, world famous for its marble quarries where Michelangelo sourced marble for his Renaissance sculptures.  The area holds a delicious culinary secrets too, lardo di Colonnato. Once a poor man's lunch eaten of lard and bread eaten hungry by quarry workers, the lard here which is seasoned and cured in pure marble basins is now highly sought after throughout Italy. The marble cures the lard in a particular way resulting in a melt-in-your mouth product like no other. We will have a tour and lunch at the oldest larderia in Colonnata, Antica Larderia Mafalda, which sits just at the foothills of the marble quarries. 

PLEASE NOTE:  You will be able to see the quarries from a distance as we drive to Colonnata, but we will not be going directly into the quarries due to the conditions of the roads.  An SUV or off road vehicle is better suited to enter the quarries. Although we will only be going as far as the village of Colonnata for lunch, there are shops along the roadside on the way if you would like to buy marble souvenirs. Farewell dinner tonight at Antica Locanda di Sesto.

We will take you back to Lucca after check out. Please plan departing flights for after 3:00 pm if flying on this day or plan to fly out the following day, so you do not miss your flight.