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CalabriaLiguria
Liguria may be one of the smallest regions in Italy, but it’s loaded with allures. The crescent-shaped sliver of land outlines the Mediterranean coast and is backed by the Apennine Mountains, with the Alps looming behind for good measure. It neighbors with Tuscany, Emilia Romagna and Lombardy before ending at the French border.
Some of Italy’s most renowned coastline is found here, with the Cinque Terre, Portofino and San Remo all vying for your attention. There are fishing towns on the shore, steep stone villages inland, and the great port city of Genoa, Italy’s most important commercial port. You’ll find terraced hillsides bursting with flowers and staked out with lemon trees, olive groves and grape vines. Cliffs plummet to the sea, sprinkled with coves.
The city of Genova was a great maritime power and trading center that subdued the tiresome Saracens who had plagued the shores of Italy, and as such enjoyed great wealth and influence. Sea captain Andrea Doria and explorer Christopher Columbus were from here, and the port is still an important component of the city. There is a royal palace and sumptuous country villas to showcase its years of splendor.
Portofino is a swanky resort and harbor where yachts are moored in the azure water. San Remo retains the faded elegance of its heyday as the area’s prime seaside town, when it was in the ranks of Monte Carlo and Cannes. The Cinque Terre is a dramatic piece of rocky coast with five picturesque fishing towns strung together along the seafront cliffs, connected by old mule and walking paths rather than roads. The Poets’ Gulf is a glittering gem that has attracted literary figures like Dante, Yeats, Shelley and DH Lawrence, and still draws inspiration seekers.
Liguria has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in its small territory, along with some national parks. Seaside towns are characterized by colorful pastel houses and fishing marinas, along with cute cafes and gorgeous scenery. Views all around Liguria are breathtaking.
The region offers genuine cuisine -the famous “pesto alla genovese” (basil pesto) is from here , along with noteworthy wines. Outdoors enthusiasts will be satisfied with the biking, hiking, paragliding, horse riding, and sailing that are easily accessible. And of course there are miles of beaches – both sand and pebbles – to enjoy. If dramatic settings, gorgeous seas, and charming villages are what you’re looking for, then Liguria is the destination for you!
A once-mighty maritime republic, Genoa is Liguria's primary port city and a place that will surprise you with its suberb monuments.
Lerici is a town that was destined to be a destination.
A famous resort for the jet-set and wealthy, Portofino is a picturesque place that will appeal to everyone.
Arguably the prettiest of the Cinque Terre towns, vivacious Vernazza is sure to please.
Campiglia Tramonti basks in the Ligurian sun on a ridge above the Gulf of La Spezia.
Corniglia is the middle village in the chain of five Cinque Terre towns.
Deiva Marina is a quieter seaside town on the Ligurian Coast.
Placed on a rocky promontory, Manarola is a lovely town painted in merry colors along the famed Cinque Terre coast of Liguria.
Monterosso, also known as Monterosso al Mare, is the town that anchors the Cinque Terre on the northern end.
Colorful, breezy and pretty Portovenere sits on the edge of the Gulf of Poets.
The southern-most town on the Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore is wedged in a cleft between two hills.
One of Liguria's lovely gems, Sestri Levante has a refined island atmosphere.
Ceparana-Carpena is a mostly modern town on the alluvial plain between the Vara and Magra Rivers.
On the Italian Riviera, Chiavari is a lively city of about 28,000 people that has a lot to offer.
Just a few kilometers from the Gulf of Tigullio, Cogorno sits in a world of hills, suspended between the sea and the mountains.
Fornacchi is a hamlet that is part of Vernazza in the Cinque Terre.
Big and bustling, La Spezia is a contrast to the quieter towns of the Ligurian coast.
Lavagna is a delightful city on the Ligurian coast, the crescent-shaped slice of land that abuts the French border.
Sitting in a pretty valley right where Liguria meets Piedmont, this pastoral village is almost idyllic.
Fanning out on the bayfront and staggering up the valley to the hills, the town of Recco sits next to Camogli and presents a pretty, pastel face.
A beautiful seaside town, Santa Margherita Ligure has all the appeal of Portofino without the crowds and prices.
One of the hill towns that dot the green foothills of the Ligurian Apennines, Vezzano Ligure is a pretty place.
In the Ligurian hills lies the preserved medieval town of Bolano.
A pastel piece of paradise lounges along the Ligurian coast on the Golfo Paradiso, overshadowed by its more famous neighbors.
Along the Ligurian Riviera, Finale Ligure isn't just a town, it's a collection of hamlets that skirt the coast and climb the hill.
The Ligurian city is one of the region's most unusual and yet charming, with its hill hamlets, and seaside city along the Riviera dei Fiori.
Between the cities of Genova and San Remo, Pietra Ligure sits on the Italian Riviera, its old fishing town melding nicely with modern beach resort.
A pastel town that is among the prettiest in Liguria, Finalborgo enjoys a charming atmosphere just minutes from the coast.
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