Italian Riviera “Green” Tour: Voluntourism and Eco-Travel with Wines, Cuisine, Language Lessons
8-day, small group “green” tour to Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera combines volunteer service in a family-owned vineyard, wine and olive oil tastings, cooking lesson, hiking on eco-protected paths, inter-cultural social occasions, and sightseeing to Portofino and Carrara, among other towns. Tour includes language lessons before departure.
Alexandria, VA (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 16, 2009 -- On September 11, eight people will fly to Milan for a “green” social tourism experience in the Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera. The environmentally conscious guests—prepared with language skills—will join in the local scene, assisting a small local vintner in his annual grape harvest. They will also participate in wine and olive oil tastings, a private cooking lesson, inter-cultural social occasions, hiking with a local guide on eco-protected paths, and sightseeing to Portofino and Tuscany, among other destinations.
Vernazza, Italian Riviera Wine Harvest and EcoTour, September 2009, Peace Through Travel
Prior to departure, the travelers will receive four complimentary 90-minute Italian language and culture lessons via webinar. Linda Rivero, president and founder of Peace Through Travel LLC, the tour’s sponsor, will lead the sessions. Ms. Rivero is a former professor of Italian with 10 years’ experience conducting tours to Italy.
Ms. Rivero will meet the group in Milan and escort them by motorcoach to the fabled Cinque Terre on the Mediterranean coast. The five villages comprising this territory are protected by government declaration as a natural marine area and are also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Ms. Rivero states, “We create sustainable tours that support the local economy, environment and community. Our guests will stay at a small, charming hotel and dine in village restaurants. They will meet many local residents and be escorted by a local guide.
“We also believe in giving back,” Ms. Rivero continues. “A major highlight of this tour is the opportunity to work on a small, family-owned winery. We will help harvest the vintner’s crop and lend a hand in crushing the grapes. Our activities will contribute to producing some of Italy’s finest “Big White” wines, typical of the region.”
Medieval Vernazza, arguably the most charming of the five villages, will be the group’s home base. Founded in 1080 A.D., Vernazza has a population of 1000. The main church was built in the 14th century, and the town features a 15th century castle designed and built to protect the townspeople from pirate attacks.
The group will also enjoy wine and olive oil tastings and take an active part in a private cooking lesson in the art of preparing traditional, local cuisine.
Ms. Rivero has been praised for the “insider” feel of her tours. As Marilyn Goldstein of Newsday states, “Linda Rivero leaves no cobblestone unturned in her search for the perfect palazzo or the trendiest trattoria. She’ll send you down roads you won’t easily find on your own.”
The small group will also travel by boat along the Italian Riviera and by train to a neighboring village. Accompanied by a local guide, they will hike on eco-protected paths to view the breathtaking coastline. A boat trip to Portofino and a day excursion to the famed marble quarries of Carrara are also included. The tour ends on September 19 with a flight from Milan to the States.
The cost (excluding air fare) is $2895 per person double occupancy. Travelers may enjoy a discount of $350 by acting before July 15. Tour cost includes hotel, all excursions listed in the itinerary, and three meals a day including wine, and bilingual/bicultural guide. Single supplement is $295.
For additional information on the Italian Riviera Wine Harvest and EcoTour, contact Linda Rivero.
Note: Linda Rivero, an experienced media guest, is available for interviews.
About Peace Through Travel LLC:
Peace Through Travel offers sustainable travel opportunities for today's active adventurers seeking culturally authentic travel that protects and preserves the world we all live in. Our goal is to educate, inform and inspire people to travel responsibly. Founder Linda Rivero previously directed La Pergola Tours, Inc., her first responsible travel company specializing in personalized travel in rural Italy, for ten years.
###
Post Comment:
Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/VGhpci1FbXB0LVNpbmctU3VtbS1JbnNlLUNvdXAtWmVybw==
Bookmark -
Del.icio.us |
Furl It |
Technorati |
Ask |
MyWeb |
Propeller |
Live Bookmarks |
Newsvine |
TailRank |
Reddit |
Slashdot |
Digg |
Stumbleupon |
Google Bookmarks |
Sphere |
Blink It |
Spurl
|
