Via Dell'Amore - Cinque Terre explored

You can still do the flowers and cards bit on ‘the day’, but much more romantic is a stroll with your partner along the famous Via dell’Amore (Lovers’ Walk) where the seductive scent of citrus and jasmine lingers in the air.

The Via dell’Amore forms part of an 8-day walking exploration with Peregrine Adventures, through the pretty coastal villages of Italy’s Cinque Terre, including the nearby town of Portovenere where a dreamy forest grotto is dedicated to the great romantic, Lord Byron.

The Cinque Terre (meaning ‘Five Lands’ in Italian) gets its name from the five picturesque villages of Liguria’s Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. All the villages are connected by a railway system that tunnels beneath the cliffs, and an extensive network of ancient mule tracks, now used as footpaths. From a base in the medieval town of Levanto, easily reachable by train from Milan, Pisa and Florence, travellers embark on a series of day walks exploring the best of the Cinque Terre.

Peregrine’s programme is wonderfully varied - it includes walking the most famous path in the area, the Via dell’Amore, and following other tracks through vineyards and olive groves, past historic churches and monasteries, to all five villages. The last two days are based in the delightful seaside town of Santa Margherita, close to Portofino, one of Italy’s most exclusive holiday destinations.

The holiday costs £1,040 p/p including transport, hotel accommodation, some meals, sightseeing and the services of a Peregrine tour leader. Flights not included. Tour departs Levanto 12th April 2009 (later dates also available).

For more information, log on to Peregrineadventures.co.uk.