Nature and traditions tour...A journey to discover the nature and traditions of the Riviera dei Fiori, through excursions to botanical gardens and tasty food and wine itineraries.
- Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
- Locations: Sanremo, Dolceacqua, La Mortola, Diano San Pietro, Pontedassio, Imperia
- Visits to botanical gardens, historic olive mills, and floriculture farms
- Tastings of Ligurian wines and typical local products
- Ligurian cooking class with dinner included (minimum 6 participants)
- Customizable program with guide and private transfers
Imperia
Pontedassio
Diano San Pietro
Giardini Botanici Hanbury
Dolceacqua
Sanremo
TOUR NATURE AND TRADITIONS…A journey to discover the nature and traditions of the Riviera dei Fiori, through excursions to botanical gardens and tasty food and wine itineraries.
In the Riviera dei Fiori, a paradise of extraordinary views awaits you, where your gaze rolls over a triumphant environment of colours harmonious, scents and flavours of a land rich in traditions. Thanks to this itinerary, you will discover attractive notes of colour and scent: real tasty and fragrant paths already mapped out that will allow you to appreciate the Ligurian Riviera to the full: ulivets, vineyards, gardens in bloom, perched villages, small fringes.
EXPERIENTIAL PACKAGE
“NATURE AND TRADITIONS TOUR”
(5 days – 4 nights)
DAY 1
Arrival in the late afternoon in Sanremo and hotel check-in. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 2: The Enchanted Valley and the Botanical Garden
After breakfast, transfer to Dolceacqua in the Val Nervia, where the tour begins through the lands of the Doria family, Doges of the glorious maritime Republic of Genoa. The excursion winds through Dolceacqua, Isolabona, Apricale, and Perinaldo, discovering lush nature, olive groves, vineyards, and charming medieval villages that have preserved their oldest traditions.
At lunchtime, visit a renowned local winery to taste the full range of Ligurian Riviera wines, accompanied by delicious specialties from the valley.
In the afternoon, transfer to the Hanbury Gardens in La Mortola: an 18-hectare exotic paradise created in 1867 by Sir Thomas Hanbury, who acclimatized plant species from all over the world, collected during his countless travels. In every season, this garden celebrates its grandeur among pathways, pergolas, greenhouses, terraces, and wells.
Return to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.
DAY 3: Flowers and Flavors of Liguria
After breakfast, transfer to Diano San Pietro to visit a nursery with a long tradition of hybridization. The family, creators of the famous red rose “Dallas”, has long been an official supplier to the Holy See, and their roses decorate the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica and the stage of the Christmas concert every year.
After the visit, transfer to Pontedassio for a tour of a local olive oil company, where you’ll have the chance to taste the new season’s oil (November–March) and enjoy typical dishes from the Imperia area.
In the afternoon, visit a recently restored 17th-century traditional stone olive press, where you’ll witness the ancient olive pressing process as it was done centuries ago. Then, visit the modern mill and discover the age-old “Oleum Mundum” method, which involves separating the pit from the olive and working only the pulp. This process increases the oil’s stability, reduces acidity, and yields a product with an intense, fresh aroma and a bold, full-bodied flavor.
Return to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.
DAY 4: Western Liguria in the Kitchen
In the morning, visit the Olive Tree Museum (closed on Sundays), with its modern factory and adjacent shop. Winner of the European Museum of the Year award in 1993 under the patronage of the Council of Europe, the museum is located in the heart of Oneglia, a port town with a thousand-year olive oil tradition.
After the visit, continue to Porto Maurizio, known for its old historic center perched on the Parasio promontory, with its Cathedral Square, overlooked by the Collegio Palace and the Police Headquarters. Don’t miss the Logge di Santa Chiara and the adjoining convent founded in 1365, still inhabited today by cloistered Clarisse nuns.
Return to the hotel for lunch and a short rest.
In the mid-afternoon, enjoy an engaging Ligurian cooking class in collaboration with a renowned local chef (minimum 6 participants). The class will introduce you to a wealth of traditional culinary specialties. Among the dishes prepared, you’ll enjoy *panissa* (a chickpea flour-based polenta), *barbagiuai* (fried pastries filled with pumpkin and ricotta), and a traditional dessert called *striscia*, made with extra virgin olive oil, wine, flour, and sugar. The class ends with a dinner featuring a tasting of the dishes prepared.
Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
DAY 5
Departure after breakfast.
Additional Information about the Nature and Traditions Tour
Included:
- Individual registration fee, covering administrative and organizational costs.
- Accommodation in our hotels in a double room with half board treatment.
- Admission to the museums and villas included in the program.
- Enrollment fee for the Ligurian cooking class (min. 6 participants).
Not Included:
- Round-trip travel, local transfers, and anything not listed under “Included”.
- Lunches and dinners are based on the daily menu or tasting menu proposed by the chef. Beverages and à la carte items must be paid for on-site.
- The visits suggested in the program are self-guided, i.e., without a tour guide.
Optional Services:
- Tour guide for village visits
- Local transfers by car or minibus with driver
- The tour can be customized according to your needs, preferences, and interests
