Provinces: Genova, Imperia, La Spezia, Savona
Part of what is called the Italian Riviera. This region is mountainous and very hilly. It includes part of the Maritime Alps and the Ligurian Apennines, The region is separated into 2 sections, the Riviera di Ponente, from Ventimiglia to Genoa, and the Riviera di Levante, from Genoa to La Spezia.
The area and region is a favorite holiday area for the rich and famous of Europe. The area contains some of the favorite beaches and little fishing villages along this part of Italy. If you want to find some real Italian food with unsurpassed views, try the Liguria region for your next holiday.
The region is a small strip of mountains and coastline bridging France to Tuscany. This region is best known for its beach resorts and seaside towns, considered to be among the best in the Mediterranean. You will find the regional and area to contain spectacular, cliff-side villages of the Cinque Terre, the ancient maritime port of Genoa and some wonderful walking and hiking in the Ligurian Alps.
Genova, Italy – Travel and Tourism
The Medieval district of Genova, Italy contains several treasures, such as the Porta Soprana, the Church of Sant’Agostino, the splendid Church of San Donato, the 12th-century Church of Santa Maria di Castello and the Gothic Cathedral of San Lorenzo. The Aquarium presents underwater ocean life, with approximately one thousand species contained in 50 huge water tanks that will rank it the biggest in all of Europe.
Riviera Ligure, Italy
The Riviera di Levante offers several small bays nestled by rocky cliffs and more exclusive retreats such as Portofino and Cinque Terre. Portofino is the best known, with its small picturesque harbor full of yachts, it’s luxury clothes shops, its romantic villas owned perched on the hillside and the Castello di San Giorgio high up on a promontory with magnificent views of harbor and bay. The beach at Santa Margherita Ligure, just 5km south of Portofino, is an excellent place to swim, with a magical view of the surrounding cliffs and villas. This is a playground of the rich and famous and don’t be surprised if you see some very familiar faces getting on and off the beautiful yachts and boats that pull into this area.
Rapallo, located south of Portofino, is less fashionable and will be less expensive. Here you can visit the Baroque cathedral and take a cable car ride up to the mountain 16th-century sanctuary of Montallegro.
Camogli, a small and very quaint town that shows you what Italy can really be. Visit the isolated fisherman village of San Fruttuoso where you can visit the abbey with its 13th-century church, reachable by boat.
Cinque Terre, located at the southern tip of the Riviera di Levante, lies five postcard-perfect fishing villages linked by scenic mountainside paths and contained by vineyards and olive groves.
Riviera di Ponente, this area is also known by the Riviera Dei Fiori. In the picturesque hill town of Dolceacqua take time to visit and explore the 12th-century castle and the Romanesque church.
San Remo, one of the more famous little towns known for its Italian music festival. It has an old city or medieval quarter and a newer area with a Casino.
Ligurian Islands, Italy
The islands are all very small and close to the coast in this region. Palmaria is the main island and is joined to the promontory of Portovenere which lies just 105 meters away. Palmaria closes the Gulf of La Spezia along with the small islands of Tino and Tinetto. The former is a military area and there is no public access; also the latter is very small but interesting from an archaeological point of view.