Tour Plan
Our journey begins at noon at the airport in Florence. We should all arrive before lunch, as we would like to be on time for the sunset in the Cinque Terre. Since all Cinque Terre towns are closed for driving, we will take a train from Pisa to Manarola. The trip will take approximately two hours and will take us from the hustle and bustle of the city to the parallel reality of medieval coastal villages, salty breeze and the glittering surface of the sea. We will live here in Manarola for the next three days. After settling in the hotel, we go to shoot the first sunset of our trip.
We will get up before dawn to photograph the morning in the pretty town of Manarola. We will snap the moments of the lights going out and the sunrise. After our morning photoshoot we will go for breakfast and then take a walk along the charming streets or go to the beaches of Monterosso and wander along the shore. In the afternoon we will have some free time. In the evening, we will walk along the famous Via Dell’amore, the “Road of love,” from Manarola to Riomaggiore. There we will photograph the picturesque sunset and have a delicious dinner.
We will catch the first rays of sun in one of the picturesque locations in Riomaggiore. There will be free time after breakfast so you can enjoy wandering the streets and looking for your best shots. Alternatively, during this time we can have a short photography workshop where we will select and discuss photos taken in Cinque Terre by this time. The evening photo session will take place in beautiful Vernazza, where we will end the day in one of the local fish restaurants.
We will decide collectively what will be on our “dawn menu” – Manarola, Riomaggiore or Vernazza. After Breakfast, we pack our bags and take a train to Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance. Our hotel will be conveniently located – just a 10-minute walk to Piazzale Michelangelo with panoramic views of the city, as well as to the historical center and the famous Ponte Vecchio. Piazzale Michelangelo offers, perhaps, the most stunning view over the city. You can see the whole Florence, the pearl of Italian and world culture and architecture, and the mountains with the sun setting down behind them. Don’t forget the long-focus optics to take memorable photos and tripods that will be helpful for interesting photography after the sunset.
After having a good rest and sleep we pack our bags and continue our journey. However, those who wish will have an opportunity to climb Michelangelo Hill again or take a walk in sleepy pre-dawn Florence. The “pedestrian” part of our tour ends here, from now on we will be traveling by car. In the afternoon, we arrive in Casale Satriano – our home for the next few days. This is a big and cozy house next to the Cantina of the largest producer of Sagrantino, one of the greatest local wines. The Cantina’s owners, the Antonelli family, are our good friends. We will definitely visit their restaurant with the famous Italian chef Giorgio. The house has a swimming pool, so don’t forget your swimsuits! We check in and go for the sunset in the charming little town of Todi. Todi is a city of millionaires. Apartments cost some exorbitant amount of money there. However, it is worth paying for the pleasure of enjoying such sunsets every day. The city and its surroundings are the quintessence of harmony and peace.
Today we have a very early departure to capture the sunrise in Castellucio di Norcia. It is a picturesque village in Umbria, in the Apennine Mountains of central Italy located inside the Mounts Sibillini National Park. Every year, between May and July, Castelluccio and its plains offer a magnificent landscape. Thousands of flowers bloom the plateau, bursting with colors ranging from yellow ocher to red, and from violet to white. We will continue shooting the valley after breakfast. We will photograph the sunset in Orvieto. It is one of the most striking, memorable, and enjoyable hill towns in central Italy. Orvieto’s Duomo dating from 1290, has one of the most beautiful facades.
Today’s sunrise we will photograph in Perugia, the capital of Umbria. After Breakfast, we take a walk around the city. Perugia has an immense heritage of art and culture. We shoot the sunset in Trevi, another renowned city of Umbria. The town sits on a hill rich in olive trees and makes a striking appearance over the Umbrian plain.
Today we have an early departure again – we go to Civita di Bagnoregio to meet the sunrise. It is a very beautiful hilltop town which is also known as ‘The City in the Sky’ due to its location on top of a volcanic tower. We will shoot the sunset in Assisi. Assisi is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also the birthplace of St. Francis, Italy’s patron saint.
On this day we will meet the sunrise either in Todi or Spoleto, and enjoy the morning walk in ancient Spello. Then we depart to Florence. We will photograph the sunset from the famous Piazzale Michelangelo again. We will also climb the Duomo, visit famous Uffizi Gallery, and enjoy the atmosphere of the Renaissance epoch.
At dawn, we will look for interesting angles on the legendary Ponte Vecchio, the oldest crossing bridge over Arno River and a world-famous symbol of Florence. Then, we will take a walk through the morning deserted streets of this magnificent city. We will enjoy a traditional cappuccino with Dolce and return to the hotel for a check-out. This is the end of our tour. The participants can return home or extend their stay in this beautiful place if they wish.
Gallery
Tour Price
Accommodation and logistics
Photo workshops
Air tickets
Food