RoadRunner Tours  
Scenic Tours for Classic Cars, Replicas & Kit Cars


The Italian Job - A Nice Pisa Riviera



    

   INDEX
Introduction
Daily Itinerary
"Find the Road Sign" Competition
Prices

   INTRODUCTION

With the first recce behind me, I can now confidently promise you a stunning tour for next summer. Just imagine the challenge of driving along the winding, twisty mountain roads a few miles inland of the sunny Italian Riviera coast, and the breathtaking views that they offer, with shade from the hot summer sun provided by a variety of chestnut, olive and pine trees; and throw in superb beaches, palm trees and small picturesque fishing villages scattered along the rugged coastal cliff landscapes, to break up the scenery. If that doesn't start to make your mouth water, then think about the excellent food and luxurious 4* hotel accommodation, and include some spare time to explore the beautiful cities such as Monaco, Genova and Pisa en route - and you can see why I am so confident that you will love this holiday. The icing on this delicious cake has to be the many appreciative cries of "Bella Machina" shouted out by young and old alike as you motor through the scenic villages - and all this is to be shared in the company of other classic car enthusiasts!

Needless to say, suitable car parking facilities at all the overnight stops was a major consideration in my choice of hotels on this tour (most of the hotels have covered parking available for those of you with convertibles), so you will be able to relax and enjoy the comforts offered by these hotels, knowing that your pride and joy is secure.

This tour will take the most scenic route from Nice to Pisa, combining many spectacular and challenging mountain roads (including many of those used on the Monte-Carlo and San Remo Rally stages), with time for sightseeing in the city of Pisa - before returning to Nice (with time for sightseeing in the city of Genova) along the "via Aurélia". This superb road winds its way dramatically along the coast with spectacular cornices, tunnels and viaducts, providing an interesting contrast to the outward journey from Nice to Pisa.

The route has been carefully planned so that large sections can be easily missed out each day, enabling those that want a shorter and more relaxed drive between the overnight stops to cut corners - but beware, in doing this, you may miss out on a great prize (see below!).

In order to eliminate the lengthy drive to get to the Italian Riviera and back (and hence save on the costs of 2460 kms of petrol, over £90 of French motorway tolls and all the stress), it is suggested that you let me make the (optional) arrangements for you to take the overnight Motorail train for the outward journey from Calais to Nice, and the return journey from Nice to Calais.

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   DAILY ITINERARY

(Driving is generally limited to under 200 kms per day - the exact distances will be added here for each day, once we have calculated this from our notes for the route book).

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Saturday

Catch the ferry or Shuttle across the Channel to arrive in Calais between 15:30 and 16:30 for registration (distribution of route book, rally plaques and train tickets) and to board the 18:30 Motorail train to Nice.

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Sunday

(209 kms, 6 hours driving)

The Motorail train will arrive in Nice at 09:51, and after disembarkation we will drive via inland mountain roads, passing ....


.... Cap Ferrat (along the Grand Corniche) and ....


.... "La Trophee des Alpes" in la Turbie. This 150 foot high Roman monument on a 120 foot square base was built by Emperor Augustus five years B.C. to commemorate the subjugation of the 44 Ligurian tribes that had, until then, been a thorn in the side of the Romans, disrupting traffic between Rome and Gaul. The monument was, in fact, erected on the spot that marks the border between Rome and that province. It is one of the most imposing Roman monuments in existence.

After driving up (and back down) the famous "la Turbie" hillclimb above Monaco,


the selected road can just be seen, as it winds its way from centre right to lower left around numerous hairpin bends and climbs up to 1607 metres above sea level on the Col de Turini. The route continues along the spectacular Gorges de Saorge, where the houses defy gravity as they perch on a cliff-top (photo to follow).


The hog-back bridge in Dolceácqua has a single 33 metre span, after which we reach ....

  
a 4* hotel in the medieval mountain village of Pigna.

  
We will revisit this same hotel for the last night of the tour!

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Monday

(185 kms, 6 hours driving)


After passing through the "village of witches", we have more hairpin bends to negotiate (including sections of the San Remo Rally route) ....


.... with substantial armco separating the road from the drop on the Passo de Téglia.


Small villages and their churches cling onto the edge of precipitous ridges.


In Castelvecchio, the castle overlooks the village that it once protected.

  
Eventually we will reach a 3* ranch-style hotel just outside the small village of Bardineto, surrounded by mountains, woods, meadows, flowers and natural beauty, where we will be welcomed with excellent cuisine for the demanding palate - typical dishes include local specialities such as mushrooms and other products of the undergrowth.

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Tuesday

(99 kms, 3 hours driving)

After a brief visit to the "mushroom houses", we negotiate yet more twisty mountain roads,

  
.... before arriving at a 4* hotel on the Riviera coast.

  
This hotel is located only 50 metres from a 2 km long fine sandy beach, in the heart of Varazze - a town that was mentioned in Roman times, when the people were busy building ships. Varazze has kept this traditional craft, and in more recent times, has become a renowned seaside resort.

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Wednesday

(142 kms, 4 hours driving)


Climbing from sea level back up into the hills above Genova, we drive through this pine forest near Rossiglione,

  
.... before we reach Savignone and a 15^th century 3* palace hotel.

  
  
  
This was once the residence of a noble family, and is now furnished in 19^th century style.

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Thursday

(90 kms, 3 hours driving)


Perched on top of a huge rock ....


.... is the Castello della Pietra. For the very energetic, there is a footpath that leads up to the top, allegedly affording spectacular views of the surroundings. After yet more mountain roads,


.... we arrive in the small colourful fishing village of Camogli at a 4* hotel ....

  
.... with its 17^th century chapel, lush gardens ....

  
.... lounge area and beach-front restaurant ....
with panoramic views looking west across the Paradise Gulf (ideal for watching the sun set over dinner and drinks). This is one of the most charming grand hotels in Liguria. Its story began in 1565 when an aristocratic family which governed a great part of Italy decided to build the Villa Franca del Castellaro on a rock at foot of Mount Portofino, which is now a Natural Park. As many of the frequent visitors were Cardinals and Priests, a beautiful little chapel was also built in the Villa. This chapel still exists today. Many years later, after the Villa had passed from heir to heir, it was bought by the noble family of Emilio De Ferrari. He and his wife, Adelia, transformed the estate first into a park and then, in 1956, it became the luxurious hotel which remains today.

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Friday

  
Time to relax on a well-earnt rest day at the hotel alongside the sea-water swimming pool or on the private beach - the more energetic can explore the village of Camogli, walk around the dozens of marked excursion footpaths on the peninsula, or take the optional boat tour to the nearby medieval abbey of San Fruttuoso, or further along the coastline to Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure (did you really think that we would plan a drive on Friday 13^th?).

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Saturday

(214 kms, 6 hours driving)


More driving past scenic churches ....


.... and on winding roads through small villages ....


.... before we drop back down towards sea level ....


and possibly detour off the Route Book and head down to any of several beautiful fishing villages - this one is Monterosso ....


.... and pass by the naval port of La Spézia ....


.... before arriving at a 4* hotel in Portovenere. This hotel is an ancient Franciscan monastery from the year 1600, located opposite the Palmaria Island and is surrounded by the enchanting old village and tower houses.

  
The bedroom balconies afford magnificent views, and the restaurant is situated in the refectory of the old monastery, with its robust pillars and barrel roof that create natural separations,

  
plus a beautiful terrace overlooking the harbour, where we will enjoy our mid-tour dinner (included in the tour price). There is a typical yet refined cuisine, with a variety of fresh fish and crustaceans from the Gulf of Poets.

  
There is even a health and beauty spa, should the day's driving have taken its toll!

Portovenere is one the most romantic spots on the Italian Riviera - it has an ancient small harbour of nostalgic beauty between Cinque Terre and the Gulf of Poets. The multicoloured tower houses, built in ancient times as defense against the pirates, overlook the picturesque harbour. The tiny square and its fountain, the beautiful ancient church of St. Peter on the white and black rocks of the point from where the poet Byron used to swim, the church of S. Lorenzo with its precious works of art and the massive 16^th century castle and the ancient marble arch with the effigy of the "White Madonna" (the patron of the village) are some of the local sights to admire. The mild climate makes Portovenere a preferred destination in every season.

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Sunday

(196 kms, 6 hours driving)

  
The castle overlooks the harbour and colourful houses in Lerici, where the poets Byron and Shelley used to live.

  
The marble cut from these impressive quarries on Mont Alfissimo is amongst the finest in the world, and the massive excavator trucks look like litle toys below.

  
This marble is taken from here down to Carrara, where it is cut and polished, perhaps into life-size carvings such as these.


We pass by a deserted medieval village high up in the mountains, ....


.... and then the beautiful Ponte della Maddalena.


The largest arch of this stone bridge crosses the river Sérchio.

Shortly after here, we continue past the city of Lucca, en route to the furthest point of this tour (and incidentally, the start point of our planned sequel tour of Italy in June 2003) - Pisa.

The tour participants can vote for their choice of hotel accomodation for the following two nights in Pisa ....


a) a 4* hotel, just a few metres away from the famous leaning tower and cathedral.


b) a 3* hotel, located in the centre of Pisa, on the banks of the river Arno. It was built around a 9^th century tower which the Winemakers' Guild erected, to serve both as an inn and as their headquarters, the "Università de' Vinajoli" - which eventually became the University of Pisa. In the 16^th century, when Florence overcame Pisa, the tavern became known as the "Locanda della Vittoria". In 1837 Pasquale Piegaja, a citizen of Lucca, purchased the tower and other adjacent buildings, transforming the Inn into a hotel. Today, over 164 years later, the same family proudly and enthusiastically continue the tradition in this hotel ....


.... where the rooms and the many halls offer a rare atmosphere because of their old-fashioned size, original furniture and ornate ceilings with beautiful frescos, all typical of the Tuscan austere style. This extraordinary continuity distinguishes this hotel from the many now fashionable converted palaces, monasteries and villas.
This hotel has accommodated about 3 million guests, including a surprisingly large number of illustrious visitors - amongst them historical figures, scientific and artistic celebrities, members of aristocratic families and those well-know in the worlds of business and entertainment. During your stay, ask to see the visitors' books both old and new, and you will discover that you are in good company while in your Pisan home!
For those not arriving here by horse and carriage, may we remind you that the hotel has its own private garage for cars, motorbikes and bicycles.



c) just a few kilometres north of the city of Pisa, a magnificent 16^th century Villa ....


.... is surrounded by a centuries-old park ....


.... and is the present residence of Count Ferdinando Agostini Venerosi della Seta.

  
  

Please mark your choice on the Booking Form.

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Monday

Time to relax on another rest day at one of the above hotels, or take in the sights of Pisa on foot or bicycle - apart from the famous Cathedral and leaning tower, the Piazza dei Miracoli and Piazza dei Cavalieri in the heart of the university campus are worth a visit, as is the sunny Lungarno area, from where one can see many museums and architectural curiosities, such as the wonderful little church of Santa Maria Della Spina.

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Tuesday


Palm trees offer shade for the parked cars in Déiva Marina.


This tunnel links Déiva Marina with Monéglia on the coastal road, as we head from Pisa back towards Genova. Great for V8 engines - but for the claustrophobic, the tunnel can be easily avoided by staying on the upper "via Aurélia" road.

After driving further along this famous coastal road ....


.... passing by many spectacular churches, including this one in Zoagli ....

  
.... we will arrive at a 4* hotel in Genova. This is the most modern hotel on the tour - conveniently located right in the centre of Genova, close to the coastline and all the attractions of this fascinating city.

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Wednesday

Time to relax on another rest day at the hotel in Genova, or take in the sights (Palaces, Cathedral, cable car, boat tour of harbour, etc.).

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Thursday


Just one of the exotic houses along the "via Aurélia" near Finale Ligure.

We continue the drive along the coastal and mountain roads ....


to a 4* hotel at Imperia, only 100 metres inland from the Riviera coast.

  
  
The hotel has its own private beach nearby.


The village of Molini above Imperia, just after sunset.

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Friday

The tour continues on a mixture of coastal and mountain roads back to the 4* hotel in the medieval mountain village of Pigna (where we spent the first night of the tour). Here we will celebrate the end-of-tour dinner, with the prize-giving for the lucky winners of the road-sign competition.

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Saturday

A short drive on coastal roads (including sections of Monte-Carlo F1 Grand Prix circuit in Monaco) follows before we arrive in Nice, arriving in good time to board the 18:05 Motorail train to Calais.


Cap Ferrat church at night.

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Sunday

Arrive in Calais at 09:38, disembark train and continue the onward journey home.



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   ROAD SIGN COMPETITION

A feature of all Roadrunner Tours is the hunt to identify the location of a particular road sign. During the mid-tour and end-of-tour dinner evenings on this tour, a draw will be held to select one from amongst the correct entries; the lucky winner will receive a voucher worth 10% off their next Roadrunner Tour, plus a bottle of champagne.
Both of these photos will be reproduced in the route book, for easy reference whilst on the tour.


The "strada dissestata" warns of distressed road surfaces to come. This photo was taken somewhere on the tour route between Nice and Pisa - but where exactly?


The "tornante" road sign appears very frequently (to warn of a very sharp bend), but will be seen only once in combination with these other two signs. Where (on the tour route between Pisa and Nice) was this photo taken?


Probably seen more often than any other road signs on this tour - you have been warned!



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   PRICES

Costs:-

£ 2440,- / Euro 3865,- per car including two adults

plus optional overnight Motorail train from Calais - Nice - Calais (ca. £ 390,- / Euro 615,- per car, including two adults)

Includes:-

Non-competitive scenic drive from/to Nice, using easy-to-follow Route Books with simple tulip diagrams (click here for an example) and colour photocopies of relevant maps with the route marked up.

Hotel accommodation based on two people sharing a double room, breakfast included (£ 225,- / Euro 355,- surcharge per person for single room)

Not included:-

mid-day and most evening meals

Drinks

Petrol

Ticket for Channel Crossing from/to England

Entrance to optional attractions (i.e castles, museums, etc.)

Requirements:-

Passport

current MoT or TÜV certificate

Car Insurance Green Card

E111 Health Insurance form

AA 5* Breakdown Recovery or similar (not required, but strongly recommended)

Dress:-

Smart casual

Number of Participants:-

minimum 5 cars, maximum 30 cars

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