Rapallo
Often overlooked in favour of its better known cousins Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo is a beautiful seaside town on this enchanting stretch of coast with a magnificent backdrop of fertile, green hillsides allowing Rapallo to enjoy the best of both worlds: the infinite attraction and wonder of the sea, and the soothing presence of undulating hills in the background. Its roots date back to ancient Roman times and there is even a bridge that was allegedly used by Hannibal during the Carthaginian invasion of Italy in the 3rd Century B.C. Rapallo enjoys a temperate climate that makes it a favorite haunt with Northern Italians and visitors alike, its mild winters ensuring it is busy even during the colder months. But whatever the season, nothing could be pleasanter than a relaxing stroll along the waterfront amid the numerous palm trees and lush gardens, or a few hours spent perusing the town’s excusive boutiques in search of a memento of this stylish resort.

In winter, the area surrounding Rapallo is a landscape of untouched natural beauty. The local rains sharpen the perfumes, as a variety of flowers bloom without the risk of frost, and citrus fruits grow ripe. It is also the season to sample the new olive oil, undoubtedly one of Liguria’s most prized products. From May through October the crystal clear water is still warm enough to enjoy a swim in the sea, which is only a few steps from your base. September is harvest time in the Riviera. In autumn there are bounties of chestnuts, grapes ready for harvesting, and plump mushrooms to be gathered in the fields. Hiking, biking, and strolling are activities that can be done year-round, and are optimal ways to take in the beautiful Ligurian landscape.  

Accommodations
Situated on the waterfront, your residence is an attractive Liberty style building, a stone’s throw from a sandy beach near the town’s beautiful harbor. Rooms are equipped with every comfort: private bathroom with shower or bath, telephone, satellite TV, safe, hair dryer and air conditioning, and all rooms have been recently refurbished. You can relax in the comfortable lounges or sample the traditional cuisine served in its famous restaurant. From the terrace on the top floor you can enjoy an extraordinary view encompassing the whole Gulf.

The location of the residence means that a quick trip is all it takes to reach Portofino or the Cinque Terre, or even out to sea to spend an unforgettable day whale watching. Then again, you may prefer just to take a stroll along the waterfront and enjoy your peaceful surroundings, or stop off for a drink in a nearby café and watch a lazy sun go down. Besides bathing, the seaside resort offers lots of other activities such as riding, trekking, scuba diving, sailing and for golf lovers, the well-known Rapallo Golf Club with a 18-hole course.

The Surroundings: Cinque Terre & The Riviera
Between Portovenere and Levanto, along a 15 km stretch, lies the beautiful scenery of the Cinque Terre, which translates to "five lands." The sound of the sea against the rocks, and the intense perfumes of myrtle, oleander, lemons, and green grass make this area one of the most desirable destinations in Italy. The five villages hold artistic treasures and offer natural, succulent cuisine and famous wines. In 1999 this territory, inhabited by five thousand people, was transformed into the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre or the National Park of Cinque Terre.

The Villages
In medieval times, the word terra (land) meant village. From this origin comes the name Cinque Terre or "five lands". Coming from Genoa, the first village is Monterosso al Mare, and is the only village with a large beach and promenade connecting its historical center to the new Fegina quarter. Vernazza, located at the mouth of a river, is naturally protected from the sea by a rocky cape jutting into the sea, and is the only safe landing point in Cinque Terre.

Corniglia, the only village not on the sea, is nestled on a hill surrounded by vineyards, and has its own sweet country appeal. Manarola and Riomaggiore, on the other hand, cling to the rockface, their houses piled high in a multi-colored mosaic overlooking the sea, and are the most typical and unspoiled villages of the five.

Arrive by train and walk along the footpaths, enjoying the breathtaking panoramas over a beautiful blue sea. A nature lover's paradise, the paths throughout Cinque Terre and Liguria's Eastern Riviera offer a captivating chance to get acquainted with and appreciate the region. Tucked away in the folds of the mountainside or perched atop a rugged promontory, the villages are surrounded by acre upon acre of carefully tended terraces of olives, vines and lemons that seem to form a magnificent set of stairs between sea and sky. One look is enough to imagine the labor of love involved in tending such inaccessible terrain, terrain that produces the area’s excellent olive oils and wines. A panoramic walk called Via dell’Amore, Lover’s Lane, links Monterosso to Riomaggiore and offers breathtaking views over some of this land and out towards a splendid Ligurian ocean.

Cooking Course
The program includes a combination of hands-on cooking lessons held in a professional kitchen near the residence, and relaxing excursions to several points of interest. The aim is to acquaint you with the secrets of Cinque Terre's food, wine, scenery and charm. Executive Chef Francesco and his assistant chef (his wife!) lead the cooking classes that feature a variety of local dishes, and you can’t help but notice their enthusiasm for local cuisine and their real desire to help others learn what Ligurian cooking is all about. Liguria’s culinary traditions are necessarily conditioned by the area’s particular geography –it is, after all, nothing more than a long thin strip of land squashed between sea and mountains – and you almost have the idea that plants and vegetables have to fight for space and grow almost one on top of the other. The mountain soil is good and fertile and, coupled with sea air that is rich in iodine and minerals, ensures the herbs and vegetables grown in this area are among the most delicious and delicate in all of Italy. Liguria is famous for its sweet olive oil, focaccias, deliciously simple pesto, its handmade ravioli filled with wild herbs, crystallized fruits, mushrooms and its pasta with creamy walnut sauce. Flavors are well balanced and never extreme, all in all, perhaps some of the most delightful you’ll ever taste. Perhaps some of the most delicious in Italy!

Itinerary #2
5 days / 4 nights

Day One:

• Pick up and transfer from Genoa airport to the hotel in Rapallo. Check in and relax or explore Rapallo. In the evening enjoy dinner in a traditional restaurant featuring Mediterranean cuisine.

Day Two:

• After breakfast, morning off to visit Rapallo; you can taste the famous Genoese focaccia and cheese focaccia in a local panificio. In the afternoon, take part in your first cooking class. Dinner follows the cooking class. Overnight.

Day Three:

• After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel and departure by train for “Cinque Terre”. Visit to Monterosso, then Manarola. After visit you will continue walking along the breath-taking “Via dell’Amore” to Riomaggiore. Time to visit a traditional canteen, its vineyards and taste of some wines, including the famous Schiacchetrà. Back to Rapallo by train. Time to relax. Dinner at restaurant. Overnight.

Day Four:

• Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure to visit Portofino by boat. In the afternoon enjoy your second cooking class in Rapallo. Dinner follows the cooking class. Overnight.

Day Five:

• Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer to the airport of Genoa. Arrivederci!