Overview

Why drive a lot and go inland when the Tuscan coast is so gorgeous?? This excursion is ideal for those who love natural beauty and wine, and who don't want a long touring day with lots of driving. If you've already been to the most popular destinations in Tuscany, our tour of the Tuscan coast with lunch in Bolgheri (cost not included) gives you something wonderfully different. The coastline in this part of Tuscany is particularly dramatic, with an unusual and beautiful geographic formation called "scogliera" -- a plateau of rock that descends into the sea. The sparkling water of the Tyrrhenian and the almost-lunar landscape of the scogliera creates a breathtaking and one-of-a-kind feast for the eyes. In Bolgheri, you will enjoy another kind of feast in the sweet Medieval hamlet that is also the heart of the Super Tuscan wine phenomenon. This tour also features some fascinating (but often overlooked) landmarks of Livorno at the start of the day, guaranteed to delight and surprise you.

Description

Pass By: Piazza Della Repubblica, Piazza Della Repubblica, Livorno

Our first look at Livorno is driving through its historic quarter, "Venezia", named so because of the canals that run through it.

From there, we'll continue on the Piazza della Repubblica, a grand, elliptical roundabout that isn't really a piazza -- it's a bridge that spans the canals that run underneath it, the largest of its sort in Europe. From here, you'll get a good look at the Fortezza Nuova, a fortress constructed in brick from the 16th Century surrounded by a moat.

Stop At: Mercato Delle Vettovaglie, Via Buontalenti, Livorno 57126

For a genuine experience of an Italian farmer's market, it doesn't get better than Livorno's Central Market. Open only in the mornings, the scene is very lively. You can find vendors selling virtually everything, but mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh and cured meats, fish and all sorts of strange creatures from the sea, cheeses, bread, olives, etc., etc. The open-air side of the market is situated in PIazza Cavalotti, right in the city center. The beautiful covered market, which is a historical landmark, is right nearby. Mercato Centrale is an experience not be missed if you love food.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Monumento dei Quattro Mori, Piazza Giuseppe Micheli, Livorno 57123

Before arriving at the monument of the Quattro Mori, we'll drive by Livorno's Fortezza Vecchia, a stunning fortification built by Tuscany's powerful Medici family in the 16th Century.

At the junction of Livorno's main street, Via Grande, and the seaside boulevard sits the monument of the Quattro Mori, four splendid sculptures in bronze.

From here, you'll be able to take a short stroll inside the marina.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Terrazza Mascagni, Viale Italia 139, Terrazza Mascagni, Livorno 57127

Livorno's Terrazza Mascagni is an enormous checkboard promenade that runs along the sea. Constructed during the fascist era, the promenade is one of Livorno's iconic images, along with the handsome gazebo at the center of the plaza.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Santuario di Montenero, Piazza di Montenero 9, Livorno 57128

The sanctuary of Montenero is an interesting place, even if you are not religious. Sitting on a hill on the Tuscan coast just south of Livorno, the sanctuary is associated with legends of miracles, as evidenced by the letters, photos, memorabilia, and other forms of thanks that line the walls.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Bolgheri, Bolgheri

After about an hour's drive down the scenic Tuscan coast, we'll arrive in Bolgheri, a Medieval hamlet in the heart of Italy's Super Tuscan wine region, after traveling the cypress-lined road you see on postcards. A crenelated edifice and trumpet vines spilling over garden walls greet you as you approach the village.

You'll have lunch at a local taverna known for its genuine atmosphone, top-notch cooking that melds tradition with modern touches, and an amazing selection of wines. There is also an impressive wine shop where you can buy wine and olive oil to ship home.

Lunch is a fixed menu consisting of:
-Antipasto Toscano (toasted bread with toppings, cheeses, cured meats, marinated vegetables)
-Pappardelle al Ragù di Cinghiale (long, wide pasta with wild boar sauce)
-Dessert
-Water, espresso
-Bolgheri red wine (1 bottle for every 3 persons)

Kindly note: The cost of lunch, approx. 45 Euro pp, is NOT included in the rate. You'll pay for lunch on the spot (credit cards accepted).

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Castiglioncello, Castiglioncello

A quaint resort town on the Tuscan coast, Castiglioncello is famous for its famous residents, among them Italy's beloved Marcello Mastroianni, who owned a villa here at one time. During the 60's, a number of movies were shot here, the most memorable being "Il Sorpasso". You can take a stroll through the grounds of Pasquini Castle, which dates back to the 19th Century.

Castigliocello is a great place to go for a stroll along the seaside (and work off a bit of your lunch). At the Bay of Quercetano, a pretty little bay lined with bathing establishments and a couple of huge, historic hotels, you'll plenty of Kodak moments await.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Costiera di Calafuria, Via del Littorale 164, Livorno 57128

The coastline at Calafuria is something truly remarkable to behold. On this stretch of "the Etruscan coast" about 10 minutes south of Livorno, a beautiful, almost-lunar landscape stretches out along the shimmering blue of the Tirrenian Sea: the "scogliera". There really is no translation for this in English. The scogliera is a sloping sheet of rock that descends into the sea. The breathtaking natural scene is completed by a watchtower from the 16th Century.

Duration: 1 hour