Long and thin, with sinuous curves: the shape of Liguria on the map is actually rather similar to the contours of the beautiful people who patronise its most famous resort, Portofino.
Here, yachts fill the small harbour, and celebrities are regularly spotted wandering its winding streets among brightly coloured houses and designer boutiques. It’s one of Italy’s premier luxury resorts, but it’s by no means the only reason to visit this small but stylish region.
The Ligurian look is all about coast and mountains. The region is where the Alps and the Appenines almost kiss; the former snaking along the border with France, and the latter curving up from Italy’s spine. Both back a picture-perfect coastline of towering cliffs and small fishing villages.
The proximity of the hills to the sea creates a balmy climate. Average winter temperatures sometimes hit double figures, and in summer the heat hovers comfortably in the mid-20s.
The Ligurian Coast is truly Italian, and offers cafe culture, sightseeing and some fine hotels ranging from the very expensive to the better value. It works well in the shoulder seasons as well as in high summer. Although it’s popular with Italian families, for the UK it’s more of a couple’s destination.
Operators featuring Liguria include Classic Collection Holidays, Citalia, Kuoni, Cresta, Kirker and Page & Moy. There are many flights from the UK to Genoa, and Pisa and Nice provide alternative options for those wishing to access the Riviera di Levante and the Riviera di Ponente respectively.
Riviera di Ponente
Genoa is Liguria’s regional capital, located on the central point of its coast. From here, the Riviera di Ponente stretches towards the French Cote D’Azur. It’s a pretty, green coastline dotted with resorts most commonly visited by a domestic crowd.
However, San Remo is becoming more popular with international tourists, and Classic Collection is featuring the city for the first time this year. “It’s got a real old Riviera flavour,” says Gary Boyer, head of product development and purchasing. “We recommend clients fly into Nice, which is only a 45-minute drive from San Remo. We feature the Royal Hotel, one of the early members of the Leading Hotels of the World, and it’s proving very popular.”
San Remo is known as the ‘town of flowers’, and the old quarter’s steep streets and secret squares sit above the fishing port and beach below. There’s an onion dome church and an imposing casino, which hosts concerts and events.
Riviera di Levante
Stretching from Genoa towards Tuscany is the Riviera di Levante, a more rugged landscape of hidden coves and coastal paths. It’s home to Portofino, a small collection of candy-coloured houses by the sea that generates huge profit from tourism, such is its exclusivity.
Big spenders – and guests who choose to stay in the town need to be – patronise the two sister Orient-Express hotels, Hotel Splendido, which sits on the hillside overlooking the harbour, and the Splendido Mare, which stands beside the town square.
Guests wander the small town, letting their credit cards take the strain at boutiques from Italian fashion houses such as Armani, Gucci, Pucci and Ferragamo before relaxing and people-watching with a coffee or a glass of the region’s fine Pinot Grigio. Boat trips to San Fruttuoso Bay are popular, where a dive in the marine reserve reveals a remarkable underwater statue. Guido Galletti’s Christ of the Abyss has his arms extended and his face raised to the surface.
Travellers on a less stellar budget can enjoy a wonderful stay in Rapallo. The palm-lined esplanade leads to a 16th-century castle, and orange groves surround the laid-back town, which has a thriving harbour. Villas are built into the hills behind the resort, and visitors can take a cable car up to the viewpoint at the church Santuario di Montallegro.
Santa Margherita Ligure is another charming seaside resort, relatively undeveloped, with a castle, lovely main square, brightly coloured fishing shacks and plenty of restaurants to choose from.
When it comes to beaches, Sestri Levante is a good choice. Set on a promontory, it has two beaches, the Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence) and the Baia delle Favole (Bay of Fables), the latter named in honour of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, who lived here in 1833. The Baia del Silenzio has churches and grand palaces sitting next to it.
Other than Portofino, the area’s most famous tourist draw is the Cinque Terre, meaning ‘five lands’. This 10-mile stretch of protected coastline and marine park contains five villages – Monteresso al Mare, Vernazza (above), Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
It’s truly picturesque, with terraces of olive orchards and vineyards built into the rugged cliffs, and no roads. The area is accessible only by footpath, boat, or by the train that runs between La Spezia and Genoa.
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Sample product
Classic Collection Holidays offers seven nights’ B&B at Royal Hotel San Remo from £1,292 in June. Price includes return flights to Nice from Gatwick and private transfers.
Book it: 0800 008 7288, Classic Collection agent enquiry page
Page & Moy offers a seven-night Italian Riviera escorted tour from £699, visiting Portofino, Rapallo, Cinque Terre, Sestri Levante, and Pisa and Lucca. Departing between April and October, the price include flights from Gatwick, accommodation, seven breakfasts, one dinner, various excursions and the services of a Page & Moy tour guide.
Book it: 0800 987 5112
