Italian Riviera & Tuscany
 

We will be flying into Pisa and will stay 9 days in Italy in Sept. We definately want to see Cinca Terra, and would love other suggestions. We'll be renting a car. Are there great little towns going down from Pisa to No. Tuscany, and then working our way up to Cinca Terra? Or, should we just concentrate on the Liguria region for the 9 days?

Good for you !
With 9 days---and a car---you have many good options. I would pick 2 destintions if I were you--one on the coast and one in centro Tuscany. My choice on the coast would be either Portovenere or Levanto with a car. In Tuscany, look at the area around San Gimignano or Siena as a base for day trips. Good luck !

You might want to check out Lucca - not quite a little town, but great small city not far from Pisa.

Thanks for the tips. We will be flying from L.A. to Paris - should we fly to Pisa or Genoa? Any recommendations on an airline?

I have heard (from some Romans) that Genova is a great town to be discovered. The Cinque terre may be overdone for 9 days. The albergo pasquale served us well in monterosso. If you "do" tuscany, I loved Volterra. San Gim is great and Sienna too. But I think the smaller walled towns are quaint. Just driving will be an adventure and you will see some amazing countryside. There is a lunch spot in Cinque terre, can't remember which town, but you have lunch on the terrace of olive trees looking at the sea with great inexpensive wine. I am sure it is not monterroso, and likly not vernazza. Incidently be sure to see il gigante. And if youare up for it the hike from Monterrosso to Levanto is breathtaking, literally as well!
L

monterosso is a good town to stay in while visiting the Cinque Terra by car. The hotel I stayed at included free private parking
http://www.hotelpuntamesco.it/english/camere.html

To allow for any bad weather, I would stay for 3 days/2 nights, especially if your plans include hiking.

Either is good---use which one is best from Paris---see www.whichbudget.com