Guest Speaker 
Deluxe Stateroom
20% Ponant Bonus
19 m2
2
- Last staterooms
The charms of the Italian Riviera
Nice - Nice
Dates:
24/05/2022
to
31/05/2022
days
nights on board
Board Le Bougainville for an authentic 8-day cruise to discover the wonders of the Italian coast and enjoy a taste of la dolce vita.
Departing from Nice, your ship will set sail for the magnificent Cinque Terre region. From the sea, you will discover the landscapes of villages perched along the rugged coast of the Italian Riviera before calling at Porto Venere, a small fishing village with undeniable charm.
You will leave Cinque Terre for Tuscany, where you will call at the seaside town of Viareggio. Renowned for its carnival, this charming town will enchant you with its gentle way of life.
Your cruise will continue along the Tuscan shoreline to Livorno, a port city famous for its Renaissance fortifications. The Little Venice district, as it is known, offers a picturesque setting in which to enjoy fish and seafood.
You will then stop at Porto Santo Stefano, a town built along a hillside and surrounded by a 17th century fortress, before sailing on to Portoferraio, a small corner of paradise on the island of Elba, where Napoleon spend many days in exile.
The final stop on your cruise, Portofino, built in a natural harbour protected by a pine forest, is a picturesque and lively port that has successfully retained its authenticity and traditions. It will delight you with its charm and beauty before your return to Nice.
Ref : G240522
Your itinerary
An itinerary between the French and Italian Rivieras via the shores of Tuscany. Discovering the charms of the Italian dolce vita in the off-season. Sailing along the Cinque Terre region, listed as World...
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Your trip in detail
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Additional services
For more peace of mind, PONANT selects flights and takes care of your transfers for your trip as well as shore visits before and after the cruise.
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LE JACQUES-CARTIER
- New
LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
L'AUSTRAL
04/11/2022 to the 20/11/2022
- New
LE LAPEROUSE
09/11/2022 to the 23/11/2022
LE LYRIAL
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Services provided
- 24h room service
- Inclusive Wi-Fi Internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
- Individually-controlled air conditioning
- Dressing room with shelves and closet
- Dressing table and hairdryer
- Hermès top-of-the-line bath products
- Minibar included
- Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
- Electronic safe
- Direct line telephone
- Bose Bluetooth speaker
- Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
- 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
- Two ADA staterooms
Select your stateroom category
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
Depending on the itinerary and the program of your cruise, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
- Polarized sunglasses
- Swimsuit (for the Spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
- Hat/cap
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen and after-sun lotion
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT activities
Highlights
- An itinerary between the French and Italian Rivieras via the shores of Tuscany.
- Discovering the charms of the Italian dolce vita in the off-season.
- Sailing along the Cinque Terre region, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO.
- The island of Elba and Portoferraio, where Napoleon was exiled.
- Visiting Portofino, a quiet fishing village with colourful houses.
- From Viareggio, the medieval town of Pietrasanta and its captivating atmosphere.
- From Livorno, discover Lucca and its Renaissance walls and Pisa and its famous leaning tower.
Ports of Call & Excursions
24 May 2022 - Nice
Embarkation 24/05/2022 from 16:00 to 17:00
Departure 24/05/2022 at 18:00
Capital of the Cote d’Azur, Nice is surrounded by an amphitheatre of hills and mountains that protects it from the wind. You will probably want to explore the Promenade des Anglais, where you can sit on one of the famous blue chairs laid out opposite the baie des Anges. The Château hill is also a very pleasent place to walk. This is the entrance to the old city, with its bustling markets and regional products along the main street, the Cours Saleya.
25 May 2022 - Sailing off Cinque Terre
Arrival 25/05/2022
Departure 25/05/2022
The Ligurian coast will reveal the splendour of its contours as you sail along its abrupt landscapes facing the Mediterranean Sea. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a national park since 1999, the five villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza et Monterosso distil their charm and their uniqueness.
25 May 2022 - Porto Venere
Arrival 25/05/2022 mid morning
Departure 25/05/2022 late afternoon
Located on the magnificent chiselled coast of Liguria, to the north-west of the Italian peninsula, Portovenere is an unusual little fishing village. Clinging to the southernmost tip of the Cinque Terre National park, this charming town benefits from an exceptional location, at the mouth of the gulf of La Spezia. As soon as you set foot on land, you will be mesmerised by the pastel shades of the buildings. Via Capellini is its lively and welcoming main street, brimming with shops and restaurants. At the end of a long promenade, a steep road leads to Doria castle. Below, on its rocky spur, the Church of Saint Peter offers a splendid view of Palmaria island.
26 May 2022 - Viareggio
Arrival 26/05/2022 early morning
Departure 26/05/2022 late afternoon
Viareggio concentrates the charms of the Tuscan shores. Beauty and Dolce Vita characterize this seaside city which has no less than 10 kilometres of beach. Situated in the north of Tuscany, on the Ligurian Sea, the town was founded in the first half of the 16th century. At that time, it was the only access to the sea for the Republic of Lucca. From this period remains the Torre Matilde, a defensive fortification built by the Lucca people in 1541 to combat pirate attacks. Viareggio is also famous for its carnival which is one of the most important in Italy.
27 May 2022 - Livorno
Arrival 27/05/2022 early morning
Departure 27/05/2022 late afternoon
On the ligurian coast, Livorno invites us to Tuscany, a charming region offering archaeological vestiges, Renaissance treasures, undulating landscapes and a pleasant way of life. When the Medicis arrived in the 16th century they developed the city, which became one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean. Cosmopolitan and multireligious, Livorno has welcomed many immigrants and is a wonderful example of cultural diversity. Built during that period, Fortezza Vecchia and Fortezza Nuova attest to the city’s power. At the foot of the new fort, Nuova Venezzia is an enchanting district with small canals and streets to stroll along to discover a few architectural treasures, such as the magnificent Santa Caterina da Siena church in the Tuscan baroque style.
28 May 2022 - Porto Santo Stefano
Arrival 28/05/2022 early morning
Departure 28/05/2022 late afternoon
In Southern Tuscany, Porto Santo Stefano, a charming seaside resort located on the Monte Argentario peninsula, is renowned for its enchanting setting. Nestling on the side of a hill, the small town offers beautiful sandy beaches with crystal-clear water and a picturesque town centre. Stroll around its steep alleyways lined with coloured houses and discover La Rocca, a Spanish fortress built in the 17th century to protect the town against pirate attacks. There, you can enjoy a stunning view over the port and the Gulf of Talamone.
29 May 2022 - Portoferraio, Elba
Arrival 29/05/2022 early morning
Departure 29/05/2022 late afternoon
In the elbow of a creek on the northern coastline of Elba Island, a small corner of paradise awaits in the form of Portoferraio. As you approach its coastlines, you will make out the powerful and majestic contours of its Medici fortresses. Napoleon Bonaparte spent many of his 300 days in exile here. The Palazzina dei Mulini, his first imperial residence, whose gardens offer outstanding views of the sea, is a must-see. Historical treasures are followed by another kind of treasure, namely white sand beaches, and equally tempting local specialities including gurguglione and rice with cuttlefish ink.
30 May 2022 - Portofino
Arrival 30/05/2022 early morning
Departure 30/05/2022 late afternoon
Close to the Cinque Terre, Portofino is the jewel of the Ligurian Riviera. This "small village that stretches like a half moon around a silent basin", described by Guy de Maupassant, is today a pretty, lively little port that has managed to preserve the authenticity of its maritime traditions, which have been recognised since Ancient times. Built in the hollow of a small natural cove sheltered by the pine forest, the village is at the heart of a protected maritime reserve. The shimmering colours of its house fronts and the exceptional location of this village have inspired many authors and artists. You will also see the Portofino lighthouse, immaculate in its green setting. Perched on the Punta del Capo, it watches over the peninsula and its postcard setting.
31 May 2022 - Nice
Arrival 31/05/2022 early morning
Disembarkation 31/05/2022 at 08:00
Capital of the Cote d’Azur, Nice is surrounded by an amphitheatre of hills and mountains that protects it from the wind. You will probably want to explore the Promenade des Anglais, where you can sit on one of the famous blue chairs laid out opposite the baie des Anges. The Château hill is also a very pleasent place to walk. This is the entrance to the old city, with its bustling markets and regional products along the main street, the Cours Saleya.
Charms of land and sea
From the pier, you will board a private boat for a 45-minute boat tour of the three islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto.
The islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Cinque Terre and Porto Venere. Although these islands are considered as one unit, each of them has its own history and rich culture. Tino is located on a military base and is therefore off-limits to tourists on most parts of the year. In Tinetto, there are several churches and ruined churches to explore. It reflects the religious culture of the people that inhabit this island. Palmaria is the most popular of these three islands. This island is best known for its beaches and the ocean that offers the perfect conditions for swimming, snorkelling, and diving.
Then, you will disembark at La Spezia for a walking tour. La Spezia is small and pretty, overlooking the Gulf of Poets, squeezed between the sea and the mountains. Your walking tour will take you to Via del Prione. You will discover La Spezia gardens, where you will notice many elements typical of the Art Nouveau era. Then, you will walk in front of the museum Amedeo Lia and the Piazza del Mercato (outside visits only). The famous market of La Spezia has its roots in the 19th century and has never closed since.
On the way back, you will stroll in the Morin promenade which is one of the most pleasant places in the city of La Spezia: true symbol of the city, it is characterized by a double row of palm trees with a mixed panorama consisting of the Apuan Alps to the east, the hills to the west and the waterfront that dominates the scene.
Afterward, you will board your private boat and cruise back to Porto Venere.
- This tour involves 0.9-mile (1,5 km) walking on flat and cobblestone ground, sometimes a bit steep. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The boat tour does not include stop on the Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto islands.
Total : 130 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Discover Porto Venere
From the pier, you will start your journey with a walking tour of Porto Venere.
This is the only fishing medieval village which remained structurally intact. Starting from the Roman gateway, you will walk along Carugio Capellini, the main street of the village, full of fruit shops, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. You will then discover the Palazzata wich is made of thin, colourful and iconic houses which line the waterfront. Whilst they may just look like beautiful coastal houses, these buildings were built to defend the town against regular attacks from the Saracens and Pisans.
You will also visit San Pietro Church offering remarkable views of the rest of Porto Venere and the Cinque Terre coastline and San Lorenzo Church, a beautiful church constructed by the Genoese and dedicated to Saint Lorenzo, the patron saint of the city.
Afterward, you will get back to the pier and join your ship.
- This tour involves 0,9 mile (1,5 km) walking on flat and cobblestone ground, sometimes a bit steep. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered).
Total : 30 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Discover Pietrasanta
From the pier, you will board your coach and take the 30-minute drive to Pietrasanta.
Upon arrival, you will enjoy a guided walking tour of the town to discover its highlights with your local guide. Pietrasanta is a beautiful town with a unique square, a cathedral worthy of a great city, and the Apuan Alps. The town has Roman origins and part of the Roman wall still stands. Throughout history, and even to this day, artists have appreciated the mellowness of Tuscany and have been inspired to capture the beauty of this unchanged landscape on canvas. Pietrasanta grew to importance during the XVth century, mainly due to its connection with marble. Michelangelo was the first sculptor to recognize the beauty of the local stone.
Today's artists and sculptors are drawn to Pietrasanta from all over the world. Their studios mingle with small elegant shops and ochre washed buildings in the deep alleyways that radiate from Piazza del Duomo. Pietrasanta has been defined the "small Athens" for its marble studios, its artistic foundries, its artisans, the sculptors coming from all over the world, for its cultural activities, for the ancient and modern monuments, for its sculptures, gifts of the great artists of this century tha add beauty to its streets and squares, and also for its historic center, considered a precious jewellery case of the Middle Ages.
Then, you will get back to your coach and rejoin your ship.
- This tour involves 1,9 mile (3 km) walking on flat and cobblestone ground. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered).
Total : 50 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Discover Viareggio
From the pier, you will meet your local guide and start your walking tour of Viareggio.
This charming little beach resort town is located near the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and is the second largest town in the province of Lucca, in Tuscany. This area became popular for its long stretch of sandy beaches, back in the 19th century and since then, the fame and popularity of the town has increased more and more. Back then, this town was the only way of connecting Lucca to the sea and was hence, used as a seaport.
You will see the sculpture called L'Attesa (L'attente) by Inaco Biancalana on a rock in the port area. The statue depicts five characters waiting for the ship to arrive in port: the mother with the baby in her arms, the girl who holds the sailor's knees, the wife's sister. The faces of the protagonists express all the feelings of those who saw a loved one take to the sea. Viareggio is home to sailors and fishermen, men who are always ready to go to sea, leaving their families at home.
Viareggio is famous for its liberty style buildings. Along the promenade you will see Grand Caffè Margherita, the Balena bathhouse, the Caffè Concerto Eden and several others buildings decorated with enamels, lacquers and ceramics typical from 1920's and 1930's. Galileo Chini, who had lived in Bangkok, gave an important contribute adding an oriental touch to the rooms and the walls of the already luxurious palaces of Viareggio. Today many of these buildings now house fancy hotels but they still keep intact their vintage details.
You will also reach the The Matteucci Center (outside visit only) which is located in the central Via Foscolo, a few steps from the famous Promenade of Viareggio. You will continue to Villa Nistri (outside visit only). Designed by Professor Enrico Nistri, the building is the most complete and significant example in the city of architecture inspired by oriental themes.
Return to the port with the guide afterwards.
- This tour involves walking 1,9 mile (3 km) walking on flat ground. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered).
Total : 30 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Lucca and Pisa
From the pier, board your coach to Lucca, 45-minute drive. Lucca is the most civilized of Tuscany's cities, a stately grid of Roman roads snug behind a mammoth belt of tree-topped battlements. It is home to Puccini and hosts an elegant landscape of churches and palaces, delicate facades, and Art Nouveau shop fronts on wide promenades.
You will first visit the highlights of Lucca with your local guide. The walls are what make Lucca, and they comprise a city park more than 2,5 miles (4 km) long but only about 59 feet (18 m) wide, filled with avenues of plane, chestnut, and ilex trees planted by Marie-Louise Bourbon in the 19th century.
Near the north end of Via Fillungo, you will admire a series of houses which were built during the Middle Ages into the remains of a 1st or 2nd century AD. Roman amphitheatre, which had been used for centuries as a quarry for raw materials to raise the city's churches and palaces. The outline of the stadium was still visible in the 1930s when Duke Ludovico asked local architect Lorenzo Nottolini to rearrange the space and bring out the ancient form better.
Then, you will discover Piazza San Michele, the centre of the town, crammed with cafés and shops and the church of San Michele in Foro, as beautiful as a 12th century Romanesque church. It boasts a Pisan-inspired façade of blind arches with lozenges and colonnaded arcades. It is smack in the centre of town - on top of the ancient Roman forum, in fact, hence the name. Finally, you will enjoy the outside view of the façade of Lucca's Duomo is an excellent and eye-catching example of the Pisan-Lucchese Romanesque school of architecture.
After enjoying a fine lunch at Cantine Bernardini 1586, you will get back to your coach and take the 30-minute drive to Pisa.
Since the beginning of tourism in Mediterranean region, Pisa has been known for just one thing – the Leaning Tower – a freakishly beautiful building whose impact no amount of prior knowledge can blunt. Yet it is just a single component of the city’s amazing religious core – the Campo dei Miracoli – where the Duomo, Baptistery and Camposanto complete an unrivalled quartet of medieval masterpieces. Here, you will enjoy a walking tour in the beautiful city with your local guide before getting back to your coach and join your ship.
- This tour involves approximately 3,7 miles (6 km) of walking on cobblestoned streets with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended when visiting religious sites (shoulders and knees covered). The walking tour in Pisa does not include internal visit of the monuments.
Total : 135 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Discover Livorno
From the pier, you will meet your local guide and start your walking tour of Livorno.
Livorno sits on the westernmost edge of Tuscany, with its grand harbor opened onto the Ligurian Sea. The founding of this town was one of the most important cultural events of the Renaissance. Conceived by Buontalenti, the most important architect of the time, Livorno was a renowned city in the 16th century and became a model for many other urban areas of the world.
Firstly, you will walk in the heart of the town, and explore the quarter called “New Venice” for its labyrinth of tiny streets and canals crossed by bridges. Then, you will reach Piazza della Repubblica which is one of the largest squares in Livorno. On each side of the square, facing each other, two statues stand: the Lorraine grand dukes Ferdinand III and Leopold II, created respectively by Francesco Pozzi and Emilio Santarelli. The Cisternino also overlooks the square, a neoclassical style building built in the first half of the 19th century for the city's water supply. From here, you will admire the two beautiful fortresses of the town: Fortezza Vecchia (old fortress) and Fortezza Nuova (new fortress). The old fortress is the symbol of Livorno. While walking, you will learn more about the history and the architecture of Livorno.
Afterward, you will walk back to the pier with your guide.
-
This tour involves walking 2,5 miles (4 km) on mostly flat ground. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Included
According to availability, price per passenger.
The Tarot Garden and Orbetello
From the pier, you will board your coach and start your 45-minute drive to The Tarot Garden, in Southern Tuscany.
You will visit this unique garden, which was built by the internationally famous French-American artist Niki de Saint de Phalle in the second half of the last century and displays some huge and beautiful sculptures which depict the 22 Major Arcana of the Tarots cards.
The garden was the result of the wish to express Niki's idea of a “small Eden where man and nature meet each other”. She took inspiration from the beautiful Park Güell by Antoni Gaudì in Barcelona, Spain. She created and personally built great statues for the garden and worked at this colossal work for over 17 years, collaborating with many important contemporary artists, including Jean Tinguely her husband.
The sculptures represent the artist's personal view of the symbolic and esoteric Tarots cards, one of her passions. The Empress is probably the most representative sculpture: portrayed as a large woman-sphinx. This artistic house was also where Niki lived while working in the garden.
After your visit, you will board your coach for a 45-minute drive to Orbetello. Orbetello is geographically unique: this municipality stretches across a strip of land in the middle of its namesake lagoon in southern Tuscany. Famous for its long beaches and beautiful bay, Orbetello is linked to Monte Argentario via Diga Leopoldina, a road built in 1841 along an artificial embankment that divides the lagoon into two sections: the Laguna di Levante and Laguna di Ponente. Here, you will enjoy free time to discover Orbetello on your own, take photos and shop. Then, you will get back to your coach and drive back to your ship.
- This excursion involves a walking distance of approximately 1.3 miles (2 km), on uneven paths in the garden. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Total : 75 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Hiking the Spanish Fortresses
From the pier, you will board your coach and start your 15-minute drive to Porto Ercole, where three fortresses were built during the Spanish domination and still characterise the unique landscape of the Argentario promontory.
Your hike will begin with the visit of Forte Filippo, a pleasant uphill walk towards the top of the cliff. Once at the top, you will be able to cover the entire perimeter of the walkway built for the soldiers who controlled the territory. A large stretch of coast is visible from the Orbetello lagoon to the southern coast of Tuscany.
Then a short coach journey of few minutes takes you to Forte Stella. This star-shaped fortress overlooks the blue Tyrrhenian Sea. To create this imposing structure, the Spanish turned to Cosimo I de Medici, who entrusted the management of the work to the architects Bernardo Buontalenti and Giovanni Camerini. The project started in the 15th century and took a long time to be finished: Forte Stella was in fact completed only in the middle of the 16th century. Forte Stella was used mostly as a watchtower from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of the coast, running from the southern bank of the Argentario to the Capo Linaro promontory near Civitavecchia.
Finally, another short ride by coach will lead you to the Rocca Aldobrandesca with the imposing emblem of the State of the Presidios that dominates the entrance portal.
After your visit, you will board your coach for the 15-minute drive back to your ship.
- This excursion involves a walking distance of 2,8 miles (4,5 km) on easy paths. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Total : 90 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Panoramic Argentario and Porto Ercole
From the pier, you will meet your local guide and board your coach for the 40-minute panoramic drive to Porto Ercole. Here, you will start your walking tour of Porto Ercole, a lovely seaside resort located on the Argentario promontory.
The first inhabitants of Porto Ercole were fishermen and still today, walking along the small port, one encounters old sea wolves intent on repairing fishing nets. You will cross the Pisan door and take a walk in the heart of the village among alleys, squares overlooking the sea and stairways that will lead you to the church and then to the Rocca. You will walk along the promenade, where bars and restaurants with terraces overlooking the sea alternate with shops created from what once were fishermen's warehouses. You can still observe the construction sites dedicated to the repair work on the boats, and the landing of fish from the returning fishing boats.
In addition to the natural beauty, you will have the opportunity to admire the charm of the imposing Spanish fortresses that were built in the 16th century: Forte Filippo, the Rocca and Forte Stella.
On the way back to the port of Porto Santo Stefano, you will take a short detour to the convent of the Passionist Fathers, at the summit of Monte Argentario. At an altitude of 273 meters you will enjoy the splendid panorama that can be admired from the square. The convent, surrounded by generous vegetation, was built in the late 1700s at the behest of St. Paul of the Cross. The Passionist Fathers promote the memory of Christ's Passion, live in community and lead a life of study, prayer and missionary activity.
- This tour involves walking approximately 2.5 km, sometimes uphill and downhill, with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The inside visit of the convent is not included. Order of sights may vary.
Total : 45 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Marciana Marina and Capoliveri
From the pier, board your coach for a 45-minute drive to Marciana Marina. Marciana Marina, which is wedged between the coast and the imposing steep slopes of Monte Capanne, is home to picturesque districts, small granite streets and pastel-coloured houses. At the entrance of the harbour is the Torre Saracena, an 11th-century tower. Upon your arrival, some free time will be allotted to explore the area at your leisure. Your guide will first give you a short historical and cultural introduction of this gem before letting you explore the town by yourself.
Then, you will board your coach for another 45-minute drive to Capoliveri. Perched on a 1,355-foot-high (413-metre-high) hilltop, Capoliveri is adorned with medieval architecture and the town centre boasts a wealth of history and charm. The Capoliveri coasts are among the most beautiful on the island, and feature overhanging cliffs, crystal-clear bays and superb views over the gulfs of Lacona and Campo. From here, you will enjoy a short guided-tour before being allowed to stroll along the narrow, picturesque streets and archways, or ‘chiassi’, browse the small boutiques, or stop for traditional cuisine and fine wine.
- This excursion involves a moderate amount of walking of approximately 0.6 miles (1 km) with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun. This tour is limited to 40 participants.
Total : 70 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Porto Azzurro and Napoleon's Villa
From the pier, board your coach for your half-day tour around the island of Elba. After a 30-minute drive to Porto Azzurro, you will be able to discover the town with your local guide. Porto Azzurro is one of the most picturesque and relaxing seaside resorts on Elba. Situated along a deep inlet on the eastern side of the island, Porto Azzurro is dominated by the early 17th century star-shaped Fort of San Giacomo, or “Forte Longone”.
You will then return to your coach and continue to Portoferraio, where you will enjoy a guided walking tour through the town en-route to the Villa Dei Mulini, the former winter residence of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Although Napoleon’s exile on Elba was brief, he left behind a considerable cultural and historical heritage. During your visit to Villa Dei Mulini, you will discover paintings and other artefacts of this period. The garden is home to a copy of Canova’s Galatea and a statue of Minerva and offers a spectacular view of the Tuscan coast.
Finally, you will return to your coach and drive back to your ship.
- This tour involves walking 1.9 mile (3 km) on flat and cobblestones streets, with many steps to reach the Villa Dei Mulini (100 steps down to the port and 10 steps at the villa). We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The order of sights may vary.
Total : 80 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Portofino walking tour
Through the centuries, Portofino functioned primarily as a fishing village and, occasionally, as a small naval port. Today, it is a classy resort-village. Portofino's miniscule bay is neatly packed with pricey yachts, common boats and, as a vestige of its past, some fishing boats.
From the pier, you will meet your local guide and start your panoramic walking tour. If you don't bring your camera to Portofino, you will regret it. The town is striking with its brightly colored antique buildings hovering over sparkling blue water. And the surrounding luxuriant green hillsides of the Portofino Promontory are equally stunning.
Your walk heads up to the right as you face the harbour. You will enjoy a path through one of the largest concentrations of flora and fauna in the Mediterranean. For some fantastic views of the entire bay and the Tigullian Gulf, you will walk up the hill to the Church of San Giorgio. Perched high above the town, this church contains relics of St. George brought over by crusaders from the Holy Land. From here you will walk to another great lookout point at the Punto del Capo, the Portofino lighthouse.
Afterward, you will take the way back to the pier.
- This tour involves walking 2.5 miles (4 km) on flat and cobblestone ground and sloping floor. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Internal visits of the Church of San Giorgio and Portofino lighthouse are not included.
Total : 35 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Le Bougainville
Welcoming and spacious common areas, refined open-to-the-sea design, sleek exterior lines, a marina to make access to the ship's Zodiac® inflatables easier, hi-tech equipment, an outdoor pool, a multisensorial underwater lounge… Le Bougainville represents the new generation of ships designed to combine discovery and exploration with luxury, even in the planet's most remote and isolated regions.
Up to 184 Guests
92 staterooms & suites
118 crew members
Spa
2 restaurants
Decks
Guest Speaker
Aboard your ship, an English-speaking lecturer will enlighten you about the culture and history of your destination to deepen your knowledge of the origins of local traditions, the history of emblematic sites, and stories involving famous personalities and those of major historical significance. During on-board lectures or on your shore visits, this expert will be there to share their precious knowledge with you throughout your PONANT cruise.
Shore excursions, Pre/Post & Overlands
Charms of land and sea
From the pier, you will board a private boat for a 45-minute boat tour of the three islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto.
The islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Cinque Terre and Porto Venere. Although these islands are considered as one unit, each of them has its own history and rich culture. Tino is located on a military base and is therefore off-limits to tourists on most parts of the year. In Tinetto, there are several churches and ruined churches to explore. It reflects the religious culture of the people that inhabit this island. Palmaria is the most popular of these three islands. This island is best known for its beaches and the ocean that offers the perfect conditions for swimming, snorkelling, and diving.
Then, you will disembark at La Spezia for a walking tour. La Spezia is small and pretty, overlooking the Gulf of Poets, squeezed between the sea and the mountains. Your walking tour will take you to Via del Prione. You will discover La Spezia gardens, where you will notice many elements typical of the Art Nouveau era. Then, you will walk in front of the museum Amedeo Lia and the Piazza del Mercato (outside visits only). The famous market of La Spezia has its roots in the 19th century and has never closed since.
On the way back, you will stroll in the Morin promenade which is one of the most pleasant places in the city of La Spezia: true symbol of the city, it is characterized by a double row of palm trees with a mixed panorama consisting of the Apuan Alps to the east, the hills to the west and the waterfront that dominates the scene.
Afterward, you will board your private boat and cruise back to Porto Venere.
- This tour involves 0.9-mile (1,5 km) walking on flat and cobblestone ground, sometimes a bit steep. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The boat tour does not include stop on the Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto islands.
Total : 130 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Discover Porto Venere
From the pier, you will start your journey with a walking tour of Porto Venere.
This is the only fishing medieval village which remained structurally intact. Starting from the Roman gateway, you will walk along Carugio Capellini, the main street of the village, full of fruit shops, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. You will then discover the Palazzata wich is made of thin, colourful and iconic houses which line the waterfront. Whilst they may just look like beautiful coastal houses, these buildings were built to defend the town against regular attacks from the Saracens and Pisans.
You will also visit San Pietro Church offering remarkable views of the rest of Porto Venere and the Cinque Terre coastline and San Lorenzo Church, a beautiful church constructed by the Genoese and dedicated to Saint Lorenzo, the patron saint of the city.
Afterward, you will get back to the pier and join your ship.
- This tour involves 0,9 mile (1,5 km) walking on flat and cobblestone ground, sometimes a bit steep. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered).
Total : 30 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Discover Pietrasanta
From the pier, you will board your coach and take the 30-minute drive to Pietrasanta.
Upon arrival, you will enjoy a guided walking tour of the town to discover its highlights with your local guide. Pietrasanta is a beautiful town with a unique square, a cathedral worthy of a great city, and the Apuan Alps. The town has Roman origins and part of the Roman wall still stands. Throughout history, and even to this day, artists have appreciated the mellowness of Tuscany and have been inspired to capture the beauty of this unchanged landscape on canvas. Pietrasanta grew to importance during the XVth century, mainly due to its connection with marble. Michelangelo was the first sculptor to recognize the beauty of the local stone.
Today's artists and sculptors are drawn to Pietrasanta from all over the world. Their studios mingle with small elegant shops and ochre washed buildings in the deep alleyways that radiate from Piazza del Duomo. Pietrasanta has been defined the "small Athens" for its marble studios, its artistic foundries, its artisans, the sculptors coming from all over the world, for its cultural activities, for the ancient and modern monuments, for its sculptures, gifts of the great artists of this century tha add beauty to its streets and squares, and also for its historic center, considered a precious jewellery case of the Middle Ages.
Then, you will get back to your coach and rejoin your ship.
- This tour involves 1,9 mile (3 km) walking on flat and cobblestone ground. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered).
Total : 50 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Discover Viareggio
From the pier, you will meet your local guide and start your walking tour of Viareggio.
This charming little beach resort town is located near the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and is the second largest town in the province of Lucca, in Tuscany. This area became popular for its long stretch of sandy beaches, back in the 19th century and since then, the fame and popularity of the town has increased more and more. Back then, this town was the only way of connecting Lucca to the sea and was hence, used as a seaport.
You will see the sculpture called L'Attesa (L'attente) by Inaco Biancalana on a rock in the port area. The statue depicts five characters waiting for the ship to arrive in port: the mother with the baby in her arms, the girl who holds the sailor's knees, the wife's sister. The faces of the protagonists express all the feelings of those who saw a loved one take to the sea. Viareggio is home to sailors and fishermen, men who are always ready to go to sea, leaving their families at home.
Viareggio is famous for its liberty style buildings. Along the promenade you will see Grand Caffè Margherita, the Balena bathhouse, the Caffè Concerto Eden and several others buildings decorated with enamels, lacquers and ceramics typical from 1920's and 1930's. Galileo Chini, who had lived in Bangkok, gave an important contribute adding an oriental touch to the rooms and the walls of the already luxurious palaces of Viareggio. Today many of these buildings now house fancy hotels but they still keep intact their vintage details.
You will also reach the The Matteucci Center (outside visit only) which is located in the central Via Foscolo, a few steps from the famous Promenade of Viareggio. You will continue to Villa Nistri (outside visit only). Designed by Professor Enrico Nistri, the building is the most complete and significant example in the city of architecture inspired by oriental themes.
Return to the port with the guide afterwards.
- This tour involves walking 1,9 mile (3 km) walking on flat ground. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered).
Total : 30 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Lucca and Pisa
From the pier, board your coach to Lucca, 45-minute drive. Lucca is the most civilized of Tuscany's cities, a stately grid of Roman roads snug behind a mammoth belt of tree-topped battlements. It is home to Puccini and hosts an elegant landscape of churches and palaces, delicate facades, and Art Nouveau shop fronts on wide promenades.
You will first visit the highlights of Lucca with your local guide. The walls are what make Lucca, and they comprise a city park more than 2,5 miles (4 km) long but only about 59 feet (18 m) wide, filled with avenues of plane, chestnut, and ilex trees planted by Marie-Louise Bourbon in the 19th century.
Near the north end of Via Fillungo, you will admire a series of houses which were built during the Middle Ages into the remains of a 1st or 2nd century AD. Roman amphitheatre, which had been used for centuries as a quarry for raw materials to raise the city's churches and palaces. The outline of the stadium was still visible in the 1930s when Duke Ludovico asked local architect Lorenzo Nottolini to rearrange the space and bring out the ancient form better.
Then, you will discover Piazza San Michele, the centre of the town, crammed with cafés and shops and the church of San Michele in Foro, as beautiful as a 12th century Romanesque church. It boasts a Pisan-inspired façade of blind arches with lozenges and colonnaded arcades. It is smack in the centre of town - on top of the ancient Roman forum, in fact, hence the name. Finally, you will enjoy the outside view of the façade of Lucca's Duomo is an excellent and eye-catching example of the Pisan-Lucchese Romanesque school of architecture.
After enjoying a fine lunch at Cantine Bernardini 1586, you will get back to your coach and take the 30-minute drive to Pisa.
Since the beginning of tourism in Mediterranean region, Pisa has been known for just one thing – the Leaning Tower – a freakishly beautiful building whose impact no amount of prior knowledge can blunt. Yet it is just a single component of the city’s amazing religious core – the Campo dei Miracoli – where the Duomo, Baptistery and Camposanto complete an unrivalled quartet of medieval masterpieces. Here, you will enjoy a walking tour in the beautiful city with your local guide before getting back to your coach and join your ship.
- This tour involves approximately 3,7 miles (6 km) of walking on cobblestoned streets with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended when visiting religious sites (shoulders and knees covered). The walking tour in Pisa does not include internal visit of the monuments.
Total : 135 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Discover Livorno
From the pier, you will meet your local guide and start your walking tour of Livorno.
Livorno sits on the westernmost edge of Tuscany, with its grand harbor opened onto the Ligurian Sea. The founding of this town was one of the most important cultural events of the Renaissance. Conceived by Buontalenti, the most important architect of the time, Livorno was a renowned city in the 16th century and became a model for many other urban areas of the world.
Firstly, you will walk in the heart of the town, and explore the quarter called “New Venice” for its labyrinth of tiny streets and canals crossed by bridges. Then, you will reach Piazza della Repubblica which is one of the largest squares in Livorno. On each side of the square, facing each other, two statues stand: the Lorraine grand dukes Ferdinand III and Leopold II, created respectively by Francesco Pozzi and Emilio Santarelli. The Cisternino also overlooks the square, a neoclassical style building built in the first half of the 19th century for the city's water supply. From here, you will admire the two beautiful fortresses of the town: Fortezza Vecchia (old fortress) and Fortezza Nuova (new fortress). The old fortress is the symbol of Livorno. While walking, you will learn more about the history and the architecture of Livorno.
Afterward, you will walk back to the pier with your guide.
-
This tour involves walking 2,5 miles (4 km) on mostly flat ground. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Included
According to availability, price per passenger.
The Tarot Garden and Orbetello
From the pier, you will board your coach and start your 45-minute drive to The Tarot Garden, in Southern Tuscany.
You will visit this unique garden, which was built by the internationally famous French-American artist Niki de Saint de Phalle in the second half of the last century and displays some huge and beautiful sculptures which depict the 22 Major Arcana of the Tarots cards.
The garden was the result of the wish to express Niki's idea of a “small Eden where man and nature meet each other”. She took inspiration from the beautiful Park Güell by Antoni Gaudì in Barcelona, Spain. She created and personally built great statues for the garden and worked at this colossal work for over 17 years, collaborating with many important contemporary artists, including Jean Tinguely her husband.
The sculptures represent the artist's personal view of the symbolic and esoteric Tarots cards, one of her passions. The Empress is probably the most representative sculpture: portrayed as a large woman-sphinx. This artistic house was also where Niki lived while working in the garden.
After your visit, you will board your coach for a 45-minute drive to Orbetello. Orbetello is geographically unique: this municipality stretches across a strip of land in the middle of its namesake lagoon in southern Tuscany. Famous for its long beaches and beautiful bay, Orbetello is linked to Monte Argentario via Diga Leopoldina, a road built in 1841 along an artificial embankment that divides the lagoon into two sections: the Laguna di Levante and Laguna di Ponente. Here, you will enjoy free time to discover Orbetello on your own, take photos and shop. Then, you will get back to your coach and drive back to your ship.
- This excursion involves a walking distance of approximately 1.3 miles (2 km), on uneven paths in the garden. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Total : 75 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Hiking the Spanish Fortresses
From the pier, you will board your coach and start your 15-minute drive to Porto Ercole, where three fortresses were built during the Spanish domination and still characterise the unique landscape of the Argentario promontory.
Your hike will begin with the visit of Forte Filippo, a pleasant uphill walk towards the top of the cliff. Once at the top, you will be able to cover the entire perimeter of the walkway built for the soldiers who controlled the territory. A large stretch of coast is visible from the Orbetello lagoon to the southern coast of Tuscany.
Then a short coach journey of few minutes takes you to Forte Stella. This star-shaped fortress overlooks the blue Tyrrhenian Sea. To create this imposing structure, the Spanish turned to Cosimo I de Medici, who entrusted the management of the work to the architects Bernardo Buontalenti and Giovanni Camerini. The project started in the 15th century and took a long time to be finished: Forte Stella was in fact completed only in the middle of the 16th century. Forte Stella was used mostly as a watchtower from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of the coast, running from the southern bank of the Argentario to the Capo Linaro promontory near Civitavecchia.
Finally, another short ride by coach will lead you to the Rocca Aldobrandesca with the imposing emblem of the State of the Presidios that dominates the entrance portal.
After your visit, you will board your coach for the 15-minute drive back to your ship.
- This excursion involves a walking distance of 2,8 miles (4,5 km) on easy paths. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Total : 90 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Panoramic Argentario and Porto Ercole
From the pier, you will meet your local guide and board your coach for the 40-minute panoramic drive to Porto Ercole. Here, you will start your walking tour of Porto Ercole, a lovely seaside resort located on the Argentario promontory.
The first inhabitants of Porto Ercole were fishermen and still today, walking along the small port, one encounters old sea wolves intent on repairing fishing nets. You will cross the Pisan door and take a walk in the heart of the village among alleys, squares overlooking the sea and stairways that will lead you to the church and then to the Rocca. You will walk along the promenade, where bars and restaurants with terraces overlooking the sea alternate with shops created from what once were fishermen's warehouses. You can still observe the construction sites dedicated to the repair work on the boats, and the landing of fish from the returning fishing boats.
In addition to the natural beauty, you will have the opportunity to admire the charm of the imposing Spanish fortresses that were built in the 16th century: Forte Filippo, the Rocca and Forte Stella.
On the way back to the port of Porto Santo Stefano, you will take a short detour to the convent of the Passionist Fathers, at the summit of Monte Argentario. At an altitude of 273 meters you will enjoy the splendid panorama that can be admired from the square. The convent, surrounded by generous vegetation, was built in the late 1700s at the behest of St. Paul of the Cross. The Passionist Fathers promote the memory of Christ's Passion, live in community and lead a life of study, prayer and missionary activity.
- This tour involves walking approximately 2.5 km, sometimes uphill and downhill, with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The inside visit of the convent is not included. Order of sights may vary.
Total : 45 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Marciana Marina and Capoliveri
From the pier, board your coach for a 45-minute drive to Marciana Marina. Marciana Marina, which is wedged between the coast and the imposing steep slopes of Monte Capanne, is home to picturesque districts, small granite streets and pastel-coloured houses. At the entrance of the harbour is the Torre Saracena, an 11th-century tower. Upon your arrival, some free time will be allotted to explore the area at your leisure. Your guide will first give you a short historical and cultural introduction of this gem before letting you explore the town by yourself.
Then, you will board your coach for another 45-minute drive to Capoliveri. Perched on a 1,355-foot-high (413-metre-high) hilltop, Capoliveri is adorned with medieval architecture and the town centre boasts a wealth of history and charm. The Capoliveri coasts are among the most beautiful on the island, and feature overhanging cliffs, crystal-clear bays and superb views over the gulfs of Lacona and Campo. From here, you will enjoy a short guided-tour before being allowed to stroll along the narrow, picturesque streets and archways, or ‘chiassi’, browse the small boutiques, or stop for traditional cuisine and fine wine.
- This excursion involves a moderate amount of walking of approximately 0.6 miles (1 km) with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun. This tour is limited to 40 participants.
Total : 70 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Porto Azzurro and Napoleon's Villa
From the pier, board your coach for your half-day tour around the island of Elba. After a 30-minute drive to Porto Azzurro, you will be able to discover the town with your local guide. Porto Azzurro is one of the most picturesque and relaxing seaside resorts on Elba. Situated along a deep inlet on the eastern side of the island, Porto Azzurro is dominated by the early 17th century star-shaped Fort of San Giacomo, or “Forte Longone”.
You will then return to your coach and continue to Portoferraio, where you will enjoy a guided walking tour through the town en-route to the Villa Dei Mulini, the former winter residence of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Although Napoleon’s exile on Elba was brief, he left behind a considerable cultural and historical heritage. During your visit to Villa Dei Mulini, you will discover paintings and other artefacts of this period. The garden is home to a copy of Canova’s Galatea and a statue of Minerva and offers a spectacular view of the Tuscan coast.
Finally, you will return to your coach and drive back to your ship.
- This tour involves walking 1.9 mile (3 km) on flat and cobblestones streets, with many steps to reach the Villa Dei Mulini (100 steps down to the port and 10 steps at the villa). We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The order of sights may vary.
Total : 80 €
According to availability, price per passenger.
Portofino walking tour
Through the centuries, Portofino functioned primarily as a fishing village and, occasionally, as a small naval port. Today, it is a classy resort-village. Portofino's miniscule bay is neatly packed with pricey yachts, common boats and, as a vestige of its past, some fishing boats.
From the pier, you will meet your local guide and start your panoramic walking tour. If you don't bring your camera to Portofino, you will regret it. The town is striking with its brightly colored antique buildings hovering over sparkling blue water. And the surrounding luxuriant green hillsides of the Portofino Promontory are equally stunning.
Your walk heads up to the right as you face the harbour. You will enjoy a path through one of the largest concentrations of flora and fauna in the Mediterranean. For some fantastic views of the entire bay and the Tigullian Gulf, you will walk up the hill to the Church of San Giorgio. Perched high above the town, this church contains relics of St. George brought over by crusaders from the Holy Land. From here you will walk to another great lookout point at the Punto del Capo, the Portofino lighthouse.
Afterward, you will take the way back to the pier.
- This tour involves walking 2.5 miles (4 km) on flat and cobblestone ground and sloping floor. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Internal visits of the Church of San Giorgio and Portofino lighthouse are not included.
Total : 35 €
According to availability, price per passenger.