Parma, Tuscany and the Ligurian Sea
Prosciutto and Parmesan, Pilgrims and Poets
Tour Dates
19 – 26 September 2025
Tour Cost
€3,195 per person
Single supplement: €350
This tour starts in Parma, one of the gastronomic capitals of Emilia-Romagna, and home to some of Italy’s most iconic gourmet specialities. We stay near the Slow Food town of Borgotaro, as it celebrates its annual mushroom fair, and we tour a local parmesan factory to see how this iconic cheese is made. We hike one of the most beautiful sections of the ancient pilgrim route to Rome, known as the Via Francigena, and discover Tuscany’s untouched Lunigiana region. We continue towards the crystal clear waters of the blue Ligurian Sea and the famous “Gulf of Poets” which was immortalised by Lord Byron and the Romantic poets. The final day is free to explore the quaint coastal town of Lerici or take a boat trip across the bay to Portovenere and the charming villages of the Cinque Terre.
We start in Parma and and our meeting point is the NH Hotel next to the train station. At the end of the tour we return guests to Pisa airport. Parma is a wonderful city and we would always recommend a day or two to explore before the start of the tour. Many people choose to extend their walking holiday in Italy by visiting Florence, Siena, Bologna, Rome or the Cinque Terre. Full more ideas on where to go see our City Guide page. For a brief outline of the history of Parma, see the Blog.
What’s Included?
- 7 nights beautiful accommodation (3 different hotels)
- Two experienced and knowledgeable guides to look after your every need and bring this stunning area to life
- All meals including wine.
- Gourmet picnic lunches each day and snacks en route
- Dinner in a variety of superb restaurants.
- Support vehicle, enabling you to walk as little or as much of the trail as you please
- Transport to/from Parma (start) and Pisa (end) in air-conditioned minibus
- Comprehensive pre-trip information.
- Luggage transported for you so all you need to carry is a small backpack with water etc.
- Museum visits and tastings as per itinerary
Our tours are genuinely all-inclusive – learn more about what we offer.
Tour Highlights
- Visit a parmesan cheese producer and learn what it takes to make a wheel of the famous cheese
- Hike one of the prettiest sections of the Via Francigena pilgrim trail, complete with medieval stone bridges
- Lazy day on the coast with boat trip to Portovenere or the Cinque Terre
Walking/Terrain
Terrain: Hilly terrain with some long days interspersed with easier days. Paved pilgrim trails, woodland and farm tracks
Shortest/Longest Day: 5.4km/3.4miles: 23km/14.3 miles
We have graded this hike a Level 3. Some of our tours are more challenging than others, so see how we grade our hikes to make sure you choose the right one for you. If you are interested in this tour, then you might also like to take a look at Medieval Umbria, Northern Tuscany and Ravenna or Lucca, Volterra and the Island of Elba
Accommodation
Borgo Casale: Boutique hotel nestled in the Romagnola hills, tastefully converted from a 15th century village
Costa d’Orsola Agriturismo: Cosy country hotel near Pontremoli with breathtaking views of the Apennines and Apuan Alps. Swimming pool
Piccolo Hotel del Lido: Spectacular four star hotel situated on its own private beach in the lovely town of Lerici
Itinerary
LEAVE BLANK
Day 1
11:00 am: Meet in the lobby area of the NH Parma Hotel, Viale Paolo Borsellino, 31, located just a 1-minute walk from Parma train station. After settling in, we visit the city’s marble Baptistery, followed by the Parma Cathedral and the Diocesan Museum. Enjoy lunch showcasing Parma’s renowned cuisine. Then, drive for 1 hour to Borgo Casale, our luxury hotel nestled in the Romagnola hills and encircled by the Apennines. Time to settle in before dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Day 2
Visit a local producer to learn about the famous Parmesan cheese production. Drive high into the hills on the border between Liguria and Emilia Romagna for a fabulous ridge walk. (5.4 km/3.4 miles) Enjoy an afternoon relaxation before heading to Borgotaro, known as Citta Slow (Slow Food City), for the Annual Porcini Mushroom Fair. Dinner at a delightful organic farm.
Day 3
From Passo della Cisa (1041m), follow the Via Francigena through beech and chestnut woods, ancient stone bridges, and charming villages before descending to Pontremoli. Stay in a beautiful agriturismo (with a pool) converted from a 16th-century hamlet overlooking the town. Use this as our base for 3 days while exploring the Lunigiana region.
(23 km/14.3 miles)
Day 4
Enjoy a more leisurely hike into the hills above our agriturismo to a remote hamlet with lovely views over the Magra Valley. Relax in the afternoon with the option to explore Pontremoli, an important stop on the Via Francigena with its 14th-century castle housing a fascinating museum of menhirs found in Lunigiana.
(5.5 km/3.4 miles)
Day 5
Start above Pontremoli and climb through beautiful open woods and wild moorland to reach a high pass (1363m) with spectacular mountain views on the Emilia Romagna border, where we have a picnic. In the afternoon, descend leisurely through beech woods, crossing mountain streams to a characteristic village.
(15.5 km/9.6 miles)
Day 6
Walk to Fosdinovo for sweeping coastal views and a visit to the imposing Malaspina Castle. After visiting a small wine producer in the village, descend through vineyards and olive groves to the fortified town of Sarzana. Continue to the coastal town of Lerici, where we stay for two nights in a stunning beachside hotel with breathtaking sea views.
(16 km/10 miles)
Day 7
Free day to explore. Options include a boat cruise across the Gulf of Poets to Portovenere or further to the famous Cinque Terre villages. Enjoy swimming or exploring Portovenere and the small island of Palmaria.
Day 8
Return to Pisa Airport for 10:30 am.
