Cimino Tours
Holly & Caroline
Overnight Tours
Overnight Tours,
Day Tours & Private Guide
Holly & Elizabeth- Our first encounter with the Italian culture was in 1978 when we spent our junior year of college as students in Florence. We fell in love with the people, food and lifestyle of the Italians. Holly speaks fluent Italian (Elizabeth is refreshing her Italian language skills) Between the two of us, we have visited Italy about 20-30 times. We lived in Monterosso for several months after college when we were the only Americans in the village and got to know and experience local traditions that we enjoy sharing with our guests. Elizabeth is our water expert and she enjoys showing guests the best swimming spots as September is beautiful for swimming.
The kinds of travellers who will enjoy this trip are active, adventurous, food & wine lovers, outdoor types. While we lived in Monterosso we made wine with our toes, made olive oil with a press, helped with the grape harvest, and painted a local fisherman's boat. These are just some of the adventures we experienced and we want you to have your own.
We look forward to introducing yo the local cuisine, and the “piccoli tesori”, little treasures, that we have discovered over the years.
Caroline- I followed my heart to Italy at 19 years old after falling in love with "la dolce vita". I spent more than 6 years living in the Cinque Terre where I called Monterosso al Mare my home. I'm now living in the nearby city of La Spezia which has been a lovely change for me. I've made it my mission to share all of the hidden beauty and local treasures of Liguria with people visiting from all over the world. Living in Liguria for so many years has been a wonderful adventure and I am so grateful to be able to share a slice of my life here with you.
I completed my Bachelor's Degree in Italian Language at Istituto Lorenzo de' Medici in Florence, Italy which included courses in Italian history, art, cooking & culture. After graduating I dove deep into my Italian roots and was able to obtain Dual Italian American Citizenship through my Sicilian great-grandfather. It feels amazing to have brought the Cimino name full circle and I'm so proud to have reclaimed that part of myself.
My day tours are the perfect opportunity for you to get to know the Cinque Terre from a local perspective and really see how life is here beyond the tourist hot spots. My excursions are a wonderful way for us to spend anywhere from one to three hours together with a an intimate and unique local experience. Travellers who would enjoy my day tours and excursions are active, curious about Italian culture, nature lovers, and always up for an adventure.