Bonassola CINQUE TERRE

Transcription

1 Bonassola CINQUE TERRE

2 WELCOME TO Cinque Terre The Cinque Terre or Five Lands is the name given to the stretch of coast between five unique villages with colourful houses and tiny streets. Originally fishing ports, they now form one of the most popular tourist areas in Italy, sitting within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of the five villages, Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore have picturesque harbours, and Corniglia occupies a commanding position on a headland. To the south, at the tip of the peninsula, lies Portovenere which looks out over the tiny island of Palmaria. Owing to the steep hinterland, the only access for many centuries was from the sea, preserving the typical Ligurian character of the landscape. A spectacular railway line now tunnels along the coast, and the villages have recently been opened for limited road access. Otherwise, communication between them is still by boat or by coastal footpaths winding through the terraced hillsides. During the holiday you ll walk along part of the popular coastal path and have a chance to visit the five villages. You ll also follow much quieter paths to the secluded hamlets, vineyards and olive groves in the hills above. On some of the walks there may be the opportunity for a quick swim. To the north of the Cinque Terre you ll find the coastal town of Levanto and the peaceful little resort of Bonassola, our base for this holiday. Bonassola is a delightful village with its café, bars, ice cream parlours and attractive beach only a few minutes walk from the hotel. Backed by 3 hills and overlooking a quiet bay, it has a more off-thebeaten-track feel about it. 2 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

3 ACCOMMODATION Hotel Delle Rose Via Garibaldi Bonassola La Spezia Tel: The 3-star Hotel Delle Rose is a charming familyrun hotel, owned by the Bernardin family. A recent addition is a stunning rooftop bar overlooking the bay. The hotel is located within a pedestrianised area of Bonassola, close to the seafront, and within easy walking distance of all the local facilities, including the railway station. A handful of cafés and bars can be found within a couple of minutes walk from the hotel, including an ice cream parlour right next door. Bedrooms: There are 25 en-suite bedrooms and all are equipped with a telephone, television, fridge, hairdryer and safe deposit box. Air conditioning is provided by adjustable ceiling fans. Tea and coffee making facilities are not available in the bedrooms, but hot drinks can be bought at the bar. Facilities: On the ground floor there is a lounge with a small library of books and information on the resort. The top floor is a recent addition to the hotel and has a bar, breakfast room and outside terrace. This is the perfect place to relax, have a coffee and enjoy the sea views. A lift serves all the floors. Free WiFi is available whilst having breakfast and at reception. Meals: All our holidays include breakfast and evening meal. It is important to contact our holiday services department if you have any dietary requirements at this hotel. Breakfast: 8am to 10am and is a typical Italian one. This is a self-service buffet on the roof terrace offering delightful sea views; a nice way to start each day. Evening meal: A 3-course meal is served each evening at 7.30pm. There are choices for the first and the main courses which will include a number of local dishes, as well as homemade pasta. As befits a coastal resort, fish is an important part of the menu. A dessert is served as well as fruit. Choices are made at breakfast and vegetarians are well catered for. This meal is served in the traditional dining room on the ground floor. Lunch: It is possible to buy picnic ingredients from local shops or on some days to eat at one of the local cafés passed on the walk; your leaders will advise you of the options. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 3

4 Guided Walking ITINERARY A unique feature of our Guided Walking holidays is the daily choice of walks. Each evening your leaders will give a short talk about the options for the next day and answer any questions that you may have. In Bonassola you ll have a choice of two guided walks on each walking day. Easier Walks: 4 to 6 miles ( km) Expect some steep ascents and descents on the coastal paths. Up to 1,400ft (420m) of ascent and 2,000ft (600m) of descent in a day. Harder Walks: 6 to 9 miles (8-14.5km) on the undulating coastal path and with longer ascents to the hills above. Up to 2,200ft (660m) of ascent and descent in a day. Please note that the itinerary outlined below is provisional and could be subject to change. For the most up to date information, please check our website. A finalised itinerary will be available at the resort and your leaders will talk every evening about the next day s walks. Day 1: Arrival day For those arriving on HF Holidays flight to Pisa, the onward journey to Bonassola is by coach. You should arrive at the hotel with time to settle into your room, and perhaps explore some of the town. On the first evening your leaders will explain more about the walks and there will be plenty of time to meet with your fellow guests. Day 2: Walking from Bonassola villages and coast Introductory walks either explore the villages above Bonassola, or head along the coast to the neighbouring resorts of Levanto and Monterosso. Both walks take in narrow streets, mule tracks, and pathways through woodland, and have splendid views down the sweep of the coast below. We learn something of the history of Bonassola and the surrounding communities. Easier Walk: The goal for today s walk is the magnificently situated hillside village of Montaretto high above Bonassola. The morning will be spent gradually winding our way up there, via a spectacular headland and on through olive and vine terraces. There is the opportunity for lunch in a café before returning to the hotel via waterfalls, a church and Bonassola s castle. 5 miles (8km) with 1,400ft (420m) of ascent. 4 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

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6 Harder Walk: We too walk from the hotel, but go up and over the headland to the south to reach the popular resort of Levanto. From here we continue out through the medieval quarter up to a ridge for extensive views as we reach the open saddle between Levanto and Monterosso. We enjoy more great views as we follow a section of the Cinque Terre high level route over the next headland and steeply down into Monterosso and our train back to Bonassola. 7 miles (11km) with 1,900ft (570m) of ascent. Day 3: Cinque Terre Coastal Path Both groups start the day with a train journey and explore the Cinque Terre villages. Note: sections of the Cinque Terre path are closed, this will be compensated by specially chosen walks round the quieter paths of the villages and their surroundings. Easier Walk: After alighting the train at Vernazza we head off along the famous Cinque Terre Coastal Path to reach the charming village of Corniglia perched on its headland. Our route continues with a visit to Manarola and walk down to the harbour. Then onwards we go to Riomaggiore with its tempting cafés and train back. 6 miles (9.5km) with 1,000ft (300m) of ascent. Harder Walk: We take the train to Manarola. From here, we head up to a medieval village high on the hillside above. After absorbing the stunning views down to the sea from a path contouring through terraced vineyards, we drop down to Corniglia and take the train back to Manarola. 9 miles (14.5km) with 1,900ft (570m) of ascent. Day 4: Framura villages and Monte Serra Today we explore the area to the northwest of Bonassola, around the villages of Framura. Framura is actually not one place but a collection of settlements as we ll discover by winding our way up through them. On reaching a broad ridge above Framura there is an opportunity to have a simple meal with local wine on a farmhouse terrace. After lunch we head into some of the best preserved woodland in the area, contouring around Monte Serra on a delightful path. Easier Walk: We take the train to Framura which lies just beyond the headland to our north. We ll spend the morning walking up through the villages to a farm/restaurant where we can enjoy a locally produced lunch. We return on a broad track overlooking first the hills of the interior and then the sea before descending to the small harbour at Framura. 6 miles (9.5km) with 1,300ft (390m) of ascent. Harder Walk: We start our walk from the hotel heading over the headland to Salto della Lepre (Leap of the Hare) with its breathtaking views along the coast, before passing through woodland and cultivated terraces to reach Framura. From here we follow the same route as the easier group, meeting up with them for lunch. 9 miles (14.5km) with 2,100ft (630m) of ascent. 6 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

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9 Day 5: Free day Each week there is a day when no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently or visit local places of interest. Some options for your free day may include: Cinque Terre villages You may enjoy re- visiting some of the Cinque Terre villages that you have seen previously on the walks. Each village has its own railway station and the frequent trains mean that it is possible to visit all five villages in one day. Genoa Genoa, the largest port in Italy, was European Capital of Culture in After a fairly lengthy train journey along the coast, you ll find a number of attractions including the cathedral, a magnificent street of palaces, opera house and museums, plus a regenerated dock area and a vast ornate cemetery with its very own bus network! Alternatively you may just prefer to wander through the famous caruggi (narrow alleyways) in the old town. Portofino The chic resort of Portofino is approximately two-thirds of the distance to Genoa. This is a picturesque town where you can admire the expensive yachts and Italy s rich and famous. You might also take a boat along the splendid coastline to Santa Margherita. For information on the Cinque Terre please visit Day 6: Coastal ridge walks to Portovenere Today we travel south along the Cinque Terre and enjoy some spectacular walking with views over the naval port of La Spezia, the Gulf of the Poets, and, as we walk down to it, the village of Portovenere at the tip of the peninsula. From here, if sea conditions permit, we take a boat back along the coast seeing the Cinque Terre harbours from the sea. Easier Walk: Today s walk begins with a chance to enjoy the views from the pretty village square of Campiglia before heading through woodland to a great picnic spot high on a ridge. Our route then winds gently along the peninsula for more fine vistas, followed by a long steep section of rugged path and steps leading down to Portovenere at the tip of the peninsula. From here if sea conditions permit, we take a boat back along the coast seeing the Cinque There should be time to explore this colourful little town before taking the boat back up the coast. 6 miles (9.5km) with 700ft (210m) of ascent and 2,200ft (660m) of descent. Harder Walk: Our walk starts from Riomaggiore ascending to the 14th century Sanctuary of the Madonna of Montenero. From this popular viewpoint we ascend to the col known as Telegrafo and follow the ridge to the pretty square in Campiglia for a spot of lunch. We then take a spectacular coastal path high above the sea before descending steeply down the ridge to Portovenere to meet the easier group for our boat back up the coast. 8 miles (13km) with 2,100ft (630m) of ascent. Day 7: Vernazza to Monterosso Vernazza is arguably the prettiest of the five Cinque Terre villages with its colourful houses winding down to its natural harbour, protected by a rocky headland. Today we walk from Vernazza to Monterosso, either along the famous lower coastal path or on quieter paths in the hills. Both walks use the final section of the coast path which links the five villages of the Cinque Terre. Easier Walk: From Monterosso old town we wind our way to many viewpoints and head along a section of the elevated coastal path. The path ascends through lemon groves and descends through woodland to Vernazza. Here there is plenty of time to explore before heading to the station for our train back to Bonassola. 4 miles (6.5km) with 1,100ft (330m) of ascent. Harder Walk: Our route winds its way up from Vernazza past a series of viewpoints to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Reggio. After a chance to enjoy a rest in the shade of this tranquil spot we continue up the hillside to the Sanctuary of Soviore for a picnic lunch. From here a path descends to the old town of Monterosso where we can enjoy refreshments before heading for our train. 6 miles (9.5km) with 1,800ft (540m) of ascent. Day 8: Departure day In the evenings The friendly atmosphere of our Guided Walking holidays continues into the evening with a leisurely meal. You may also like to join your leader for an evening stroll, relax with a book in a quiet lounge or enjoy a drink at the bar with your fellow walkers talking about your day. There may be an optional introduction to Italian and a private guided visit to the fascinating church and its museum of historic robes and artefacts. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 9

10 Your Walking Leaders: HF Holidays leaders are a pivotal feature of our walking holidays. During the day they will guide you on the walks in a caring and considerate way, showing you places of interest on the route. All our leaders have been selected on an intensive residential course so you can relax and enjoy your holiday knowing that you are in safe hands. Our leaders welcome your comments on the holiday survey; constructive suggestions are very helpful. We take pride in the quality of our holidays and work closely with all our providers to ensure our holidays meet your expectations. If for any reason you are not satisfied our leaders are the best people to help. Local interest guides: In some of our resorts we may employ the services of a local interest guide who will accompany you on a walk to enhance your enjoyment of the area by giving you an insight into its history and culture. Tips for local guides have not been included in the price of your holiday. This is at your own discretion and we invite you to do this directly with the local guide. Maps: Your leaders will of course carry all the maps and detailed walk instructions needed for the walks. The best map for the area is the Kompass Carta Escursion Ista 644: Cinque Terre. Maps can be obtained by mail order from The Map Shop, Tel: or visit Children: We welcome unaccompanied children of 14 or over on our walks on the basis that they can take full responsibility for themselves. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. WALKING SAFETY Hydration: In warm weather it is very important to keep hydrated. You will need to carry water with you on walks, more during hot weather or on more demanding walks. One good way of hydrating is to use a hydration pack which allows drinking without constant stopping. This can then be filled up from water sources as required. Insurance: Insurance is a condition of booking. Therefore if you have not already arranged insurance, it is imperative that you do so, and advise us of the insurance company and policy number. We have negotiated special holiday insurance and full details of this cover can be found in our brochure or at hfholidays.co.uk. There is no extra charge for preexisting illnesses. If you would like to purchase insurance from us please call us on or holidayservices@hfholidays.co.uk. Even with an EHIC card, medicines and out-patient treatment normally have to be paid for at the time and the costs reclaimed afterwards details are available at dh.gov.uk/travellers. Therefore insurance is extremely important, as is access to emergency money, preferably a credit card. 10 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk WHAT TO WEAR & BRING To enjoy your walking comfortably and safely, it is essential that your footwear, clothing and equipment are suitable. Changeable weather is possible throughout the year, so our advice is to come prepared for all eventualities. You will need: comfortable outdoor clothing waterproof jacket and overtrousers ankle supporting footwear with non-slip soles small rucksack water bottle (at least 2 litres, more for hot climates) and a thermos flask if you wish sunhat, sun cream and sunglasses The following are recommended to all walkers, and are essential for mountainous and hilly areas: walking boots spare pullover or fleece hat and gloves spare high-energy food e.g. chocolate bar or Kendal mint cake torch You may also wish to consider bringing: walking pole(s) many guests find these useful, particularly for descents camera personal first aid kit Footwear: We recommend wearing walking boots on all our walks, as these provide the best ankle support and grip. Modern approach shoes offer appropriate levels of grip and may be worn on some low level walks, but users should be aware that they offer less ankle support. Lightweight trainers, denim jeans and waterproof capes are not recommended for any walks. HOLIDAY TIPS Language: Italian Currency: Euro Money: There are several ATM machines in Bonassola where you can obtain money. Electricity: 220 Volt AC with round two pin plugs; you will need an adaptor for any appliances brought from the UK. Tap water: Is considered safe to drink, but if you prefer, bottled mineral water can be purchased from the hotel or local supermarkets. Telephone code: If the international number you wish to call starts with a 0, you must drop the starting digit when dialling the number. To dial a UK number 0044 To dial an Italian number 0039

11 linger a little LONGER If you enjoyed your holiday in our destination of Bonassola, we recommend our other holiday at Montelupo, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Two weeks or more Make the most of your break and enjoy a longer holiday either two weeks of walking at one resort or by combining complementary holidays, such as Sorrento on the Neapolitan coastline and Altamura, in the undiscovered region of Puglia. We arrange the transfers between the resorts so that you don t have to. See our brochure or website for more information. Self-guided Walking For those who prefer to explore independently, we recommend our Self-guided Walking holidays. In selected European destinations you can discover unspoiled scenery, historic sites and the local culture at your own pace by following our carefully planned walking routes. Leisure Activities We offer a range of Leisure Activities holidays at some of our European destinations, including Discovery or Garden Tours, Photography, Painting, or Yoga. Worldwide From Alaska to Australia our Worldwide Journeys invite you to explore world famous destinations, and some lesser known gems, on six continents including Europe. TRANSFER INFORMATION If you have booked your holiday with flight you will arrive at Pisa Airport. From the UK we offer flights from London Heathrow and Manchester which may arrive at different times. Please note that meals are not usually provided on European flights, although some airlines may offer a small snack. Please meet your leader and the rest of your group in the arrivals hall once cleared customs. Due to new security regulations, our group will then have to travel by monorail to Pisa railway station to pick up the transfer coach to Bonassola. The onward journey to Bonassola by coach takes approximately 2 hours. For independent travellers: For guests who have booked their holiday without flight HF Holidays can help you to reach the hotel in the following ways: HF Holidays transfer coach from Pisa airport. These are timed to meet the HF Holidays flights (provisional flight times can be found at or by calling (0) ). Cost per single journey is 48. Please note that HF Holidays is not responsible for your onward travel if you fail to meet the transfer coach under any circumstance. Our Airport Taxi service is available on request. Transfers and taxis must be pre-booked. If you have not already booked your transfer or taxi please call +44 (0) Airport parking and accommodation If you require airport parking or accommodation before your flight, we recommend our partner Holiday Extras. Call and quote HX031 or book online at holidayextras.co.uk/hfholidays Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 11

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