FOOD AND WINE OF LIGURIA TOUR

Welcome to the vibrant, bustling capital of Liguria – Genoa! Once an impressive maritime power, the city still drips in riches from bygone times, evident in its impressive and historic buildings and UNESCO World Heritage palazzi.

We meet in the afternoon for a sightseeing tour around the city. We stop at a “balcony” suspended over the rooftops with spectacular 360° views and visit a private palazzo to marvel at its resplendent rooms and 19th century decorations.

This evening, we’re off to enjoy the real cucina Ligure, at a fantastic local restaurant. Sit back and relax as we feast on typical extra virgin olive oil fried starters, a bowl of steaming minestrone or classic pesto pasta, traditional salted cod, and so much more.

With bellies full and new friendships blossoming, we wander back to our city centre hotel, with appetites whet for more adventures in Liguria.

Prepare for a feast for both the eyes and our taste buds! We are off on a fascinating deep dive into the alleys and streets of Genova that will more than satisfy your curiosity and palate. Local Enrica Monzani leads us through her hometown with a walk in the historical centre where we taste the city’s most characteristic local dishes.

Accompanied by an expert guide, we learn about the artistic beauties of the city as we stumble across them. Our walk includes several stops to enjoy local specialties and concludes with a traditional Genovese lunch in a typical trattoria.

Start the day with a delicious breakfast before packing your bags. We’re spending the next two evenings in the gorgeous seaside town of Alassio.

If there’s one iconic food product that comes to mind when you think of Liguria, we’re betting that it’s pesto. You’ve likely tried this internationally famous sauce at least once, but let us tell you that it’s another thing entirely here. The garlic and basil that grow in this coastal fertile land, are remarkably different to anywhere else in the world. Today, we’re going to discover just what makes these ingredients so special and why Genovese Pesto is like no other.

We journey to a nearby farm to discover the famous basil and its typical sea view greenhouses. Here we meet a local family who have cultivated the fragrant herb for decades, before rolling up our sleeves and learning to make pesto the traditional way, with mortar and pestle. Afterwards, we dine at the beautiful farm and enjoy the fruits of our labour- a home made traditional peasant menu made entirely with organic food and of course freshly made pesto!

We continue our gastronomic adventure today with a focus on Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This liquid gold is one of the most important products in Ligurian cuisine. In fact, it’s not uncommon for many local families to go through a bottle a week. Ligurian oil is very fruity yet mild, making it perfect for cooking in everything from savoury to sweet dishes and is always used as seasoning.

This morning, we venture to the so-called ‘village of oil’ to discover the finest example of EVO oil in the region. Make sure to admire the famous Ligurian olive groves and their stone wall terraces, created centuries ago specifically to cultivate the trees. We have the opportunity to visit some small villages before touring an olive oil farm where we meet the makers at the modern olive mill and of course taste some EVO oil.

Our final full day together aims to help round out our knowledge of Ligurian cuisine and culture. We begin the day at an organic family-run winery nestled in the hills. Our local expert home cook Enrica, guides us in making traditional fresh pasta and other local dishes, and we hear stories from her about the origins and traditions of each dish.

Immersed in the vines and surrounded by aromatic herbs, we sit down together after our class to enjoy lunch and taste four different local wines from the winery.

Then, it’s time to stretch our legs with a walk through the Medieval centre of pretty Albenga. We discover the remains of the Ancient Romans as we wander past the ruins of an amphitheater, a theater, an aqueduct, and more.

We enjoy a final breakfast together at our luxury hotel in Genova before bidding “arriverderci” to new friends and venture onwards. On leaving Liguria, we have a newfound appreciation for the time honoured food and wine traditions of this magical region of Italy and dreams of trofie with pesto!