HOSTEL ACTIVITIES
FAMILY DINNERS
DO YOU FANCY ITALIAN FOOD BUT TOO LAZY TO GO OUT OR COOK BY YOURSELF? WE CAN DO THAT FOR YOU! ENJOY A COMMUNAL MEAL WITH FELLOW TRAVELLERS; AND IF YOU WANT TO LEARN THE RECIPE, YOU CAN ASSIST US WHILE COOKING 😉
PIZZA NIGHT
“PIZZA IS LIKE HAPPINESS: IT’S NOT THE SAME IF NOT SHARED” WANT TO CHILL , WATCH A MOVIE OR A FOOTBALL MATCH ? WHAT’S BETTER THAN PIZZA AND BEERS? LET’S ORDER AND HAVE DINNER ALL TOGETHER!
GAMES NIGHT
THE EASIEST WAY TO BREAK THE ICE WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELLING ON YOUR OWN IS TO GATHER AROUND A TABLE AND PLAY BOARD GAMES. THEN STORIES AND ANECDOTES WILL COME OUT SPONTANEOUSLY AND, bY THE END OF THE NGHT , YOU MAY HAVE FOUND MATES FOR YOUR NEXT PLAN. wE ORGANIZE THEMED GAME NIGHTS WITH PRIZES FOR THE WINNER; COME JOIN US AND HAVE FUN!
HAPPY HOUR
It’s among the most common habits in italy, and it’s called “aperitivo”. friends gather together to have drinks and snacks before dinner. have you arrived at the hostel too late to start exploring? do you just want to have a chat and make new friends while drinking local wine? then join our aperitivo
TIPS & TRIPS
besides the indoor activities organized at the hostel the area has plenty to offer. cinque terre are the most famous attractions but not the only, nor our favourite ones. you could easily spend a week or more discovering our hidden gems , such as portovenere, palmaria island, lerici and Tellaro. our knowledgeable staff are more than happy to help out planning your time and suggesting the roads less travelled. wheter you're an adrenalinejunkie, seeking trekking and water sports; an energy optimizer, who prefers to sunbathe and get lost in the small villages or a foodie, hunting for local delicacies and wine boutiques, we'll find the perfect plan to cater to your needs.
HIKING
IF YOU’RE A NATURE LOVER, IT’S THE PLACE FOR YOU TO BE. THERE’S SEVERAL HIKES WITH DIFFERENT LENGHTS AND DIFFICULTY. CINQUE TERRE, pORTOVENERE, lERICI AND TELLARO OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF CHOICES. OUR FAVOURITES (AND FREE):
- CORNIGLIA / VOLASTRA / MANAROLA: ABOUT 2 HOURS, QUITE STEEP, BUT WALKING THROUGH THE VINEYARDS IS WORTH THE EFFORT
- LEVANTO/ MONTEROSSO: ABOUT 2 HOURS, MEDIUM DIFFICULTY, HAS THE BEST VIEW POINT “PUNTA MESCO”
- RIOMAGGIORE/ CAMPIGLIA/PORTOVENERE: ABOUT 5 HOURS, CAN BE ALSO STARTED FROM CAMPIGLIA TO CUT IT HALFWAY. bEST VIEW OF PORTOVENERE IN IT’S LAST PART
- punta pineda: near riomaggiore, downhill for about 40 minutes (then uphill to get back). the path suddenly changes into a cliff, not for who fears heights. but the reward is a stunning natural pool
- PALMARIA ISLAND: aBOUT 2 HOURS to go around the island not too steep except for the last part.
you get an incredible view of portovenere’s main church while passing by goats, symbol of the island
these are only a few, there’s so much more to discover!
HIDDEN BEACHES
if you're looking for white, endless, sandy beaches, you may be disappointed. Our coast is steep and rocky, and it only leaves space for small bays and reefs. nevertheless, you can find breathless views and crystal clear water.
below you can find some of the hot spots preferred by locals
byorn cave (portovenere):
small rocky bay, gorgeous view of the cliffs, where you can jump into the water if brave enough. depending on the forecasts and the tides, it may be too wavy to swim and not the cleanest water, but with favorable weather is a gem
palmaria island
the shore is made of stones, which makes difficult to lay down and sunbathe (sunbeds are available for rent though), but the location, brushed by the current, has the clearest water and the coolest breeze during the hot season,
castle beach (lerici)
one of the few sandy beaches in the area, a small bay carved in the cliff. due to landslside risk, some of the beaches are closed, and the others are acessible only during summer
fiascherino (tellaro)
this bay has a few sandy beaches, as well as rocks to climb and jump from. has wonderful landscapes, coves and caves to discover by kayaking
fkk nudist beach (tellaro)
accessible by a 40 minutes hike (quite easy, except for the last, part, where you have to climb down a cliff). a secluded sandy beach where you rarely found more than a few people
corniglia (cinque terre)
the smallest and least crowded of the 5 villages, has a small cove the “marina”, down the hill. rocks are big enough to lie on confortably and the water is crystal clear, but waves may be strong after bad weather
bonassola
as pretty as cinque terre but way less crowded, offers both sandy and rocky shores with pristine water
KAYAK
one of the best experiences you can try if you like water sports is kayaking. You can find several places to rent one;.
our favourite landscapes is with no doubt Fiascherino bay, between lerici and tellaro. you can acess secret beaches and caves that would be unaccesible otherwise
LA SPEZIA SIGHTSEEING & SUNSETS
LA SPEZIA IS A STRATEGIC POINT TO EASILY REACH ALL THE MAIN TOURISTIC TOWNS. THE CITY ITSELF HAS SOME INTERESTING SITES, AS WELL AS FACILITIES AND SERVICES YOU MAY NOT FIND IN THE SMALL VILLAGES. want to wander around while looking for a good spot to watch the sunset? EXPLORE THE OLD TOWN WITH ITS HISTORICAL FACADES IN “PIAZZA SANT’AGOSTINO ”, THE PEDESTRIAN AREA OF VIA DEL PRIONE, FULL OF BARS AND BAKERIES,“PIAZZA VERDI”, THE RECENTLY RENEWED SQUARE SURROUNDED BY NEOCLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE, THE HARBOUR , NESTLED IN BETWEEN THE OLD LIGHT HOUSE AND THE MODERN , WHITE STEEL BRIDGE. FINALLY YOU CAN HEAD TO THE CASTLE , WHICH OVERLOOKS THE GULF AND OFFERS THE BEST POSITION TO WATCH THE TWILIGHT..
IF YOU PREFER TO CATCH A BUS OR A TRAIN AND SIT NEXT TO THE WATER TO ADMIRE THE SUNSET, THE BEST OPTIONS ARE PORTOVENERE WHERE THE END OF THE DAY IS FRAMED BY THE MIDDLE AGE CHURCH AND THE CASTLE; AND RIOMAGGIORE ,SEATING AT THE MARINA WITH A COLD BEER
CANYONING
IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION, YOU CAN DRIVE TOWARD TOSCANY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, AND YOU’LL FIND GIAREDO GORGES, A STUNNING CANYON WHERE YOU CAN SWIM, JUMP, CLIMB FOR HOURS. BRING WATER SHOES AND A WETSUIT AND ENJOY THE ADVENTURE!
FOOD EXPERIENCE
START YOUR DAY WITH CAPPUCCINO AND FOCACCIA (IF YOU’RE BRAVE ENOUGH, YOU CAN DIP THE FOCACCIA INTO THE FOAM AS WE DO) AND THEN CHECK OUT LA SPEZIA’S MARKET SQUARE (EVERY MORNING,, EXCEPT FOR SUNDAY). yOU’LL FIND FRESH VEGETABLES AND FRUIT, A WIDE VARIETY OF FISH, CHEESE AND HAM FROM ALL OVER ITALY. aS FOR LUNCHES AND DINNERS AND SNACKS, THERE’S PLENTY OF OPTIONS:
SEAFOOD : WE’RE FAMOUS FOR SEAFOOD PASTA, SO WE ARE FOR ANCHOVIES (FRIED OR ON A BRUSCHETTA WITH BUTTER) AND MUSSELS (STEAMED OR STUFFED).
TROFIE WITH PESTO: TROFIE ARE A SMALL, THICK, TWISTED PASTA WHICH IS USUALLYSERVED WITH PESTO. BOTH INGREDIENTS ARE ORIGINALLY FROM LIGURIA. IN tHE TRADITIONAL DISH, PESTO IS ENRICHED WITH POTATOES AND GREEN BEANS
FARINATA: A Cheackpea flour tiny pizza, iTHAT only contains flour, oil and water;.t’s usually baked in a stone oven like the traditional pizza. Perfect also for vegan and celiacs.. IT’S EASY TO FIND IN ANY PIZERIA AND SOMETIMES ALSO IN THE BAKERIES
PANIGACCI : A simple water and flour dough,which, when put between hot ceramic plates, becomes a thin bread served with different types of ham and cheese; that way you can make your own sandwiches. the same dough can also be boiled and used like pasta (”testaroli”)
