Cinque Terre and Portovenere day trip from Milan

Embark on an incredible journey to experience some of Italy's most breathtaking scenery. Your day begins with a transfer on a comfortable private coach from Milan to La Spezia, during which your guide will provide captivating commentary on local points of interest as you pass from the region of Lombardy to Liguria.

The first ferry will take you across the 'Gulf of Poets' to the enchanting seaside town of Portovenere, famous for its tall pastel-colored houses and evocative views from the ruins of Doria Castle, where you'll have free time to explore. See why this impressive landscape was so admired by Petrarch, Shelley, Byron and Montale whose musings immortalized it, and be sure to try the regional specialty – pesto – where it was invented.

From here, you'll embark on a mesmerizing cruise up the coastline to the Cinque Terre, where the landscape is dominated by dramatic green hills that plummet into crystalline waters.

As the last signs of civilization begin to fade away, you'll spot the vivid colors of the little towns overlooking the seashore: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, the latter of which will be your second stop.

Enjoy a pleasant break from the tour to try local flavors, such as the gluten-free chickpea flour farinata, or mussels with Cinque Terre DOC white wine and explore its little alleys.

Just when you think you've seen the all the beauty possible, you'll hop on the boat for your last stop in Manarola, which is considered the oldest of the 5 lands, famous for its picture-perfect, colorful houses. Once again, you'll be able to discover the area on your own.