Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations. Mountains and seas make this country a real paradise for both adventure lovers and those who prefer a leisurely beach holiday to the whisper of the waves of the sea. There is even an Italian Riviera here! It stretches from the border with France and the French Riviera to the border of Tuscany. Genoa is located in the center of picturesque Italian Riviera, and on both sides of it there are cozy small towns, each with its own special atmosphere. The ancient port city divides almost the entire Ligurian coast into two parts: the western one – Riviera di Ponente, and the eastern one – Riviera di Levante. Let’s find out together what are the most beautiful places here you must visit.
Italian Riviera: Portofino
This legendary respectable resort is highly appreciated by rich and famous celebrities. However, it is interesting not only for its aristocratic atmosphere. Its picturesque bay is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful places in the world, and the surrounding nature amazes with a variety of flora and fauna. This is a vibrant town with colorful harbor houses, luxury yachts, designer boutiques, azure sea and premium hotels. Portofino combines true luxury and tranquil rural idyll that give it a special charm. Hollywood stars actively buy real estate here, and Italians create their films.
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Santa Margherita Ligure
The town resembles a little Nice. Here you can enjoy the enchanting landscape of the sea and the surrounding hills covered with Mediterranean vegetation, which are home to villas and gardens overlooking the sea.
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Italian Riviera: Rapallo
Rapallo is a small town on the coast of Liguria, located near Genova and famous for its magnificent resorts and historical monuments. It used to be a small fishing village, but today Rapallo is a prestigious holiday destination along the Gulf of Tigullio. In the center of the town there is a small castle, which was built over 450 years ago to protect the city.
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Zoagli
Located in the Gulf of Tigullio, the town of Zoagli offers tourists a quiet beach holiday. Its rocky beaches are surrounded by rocks. Lovers of the sandy coast, as well as families with children, visit Pozzetto Beach. At the bottom of the sea, there is a statue of Our Lady of the Sea, which is honored in August with parades, torches and spectacular fireworks. The holiday destination is ideal for scuba diving.
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Photo: Davide Papalini, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: Davide Papalini, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: Davide Papalini, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Italian Riviera: Chiavari
Chiavari is a picturesque town located in the Gulf of Tigullio between Portofino and Monella. It is known as one of the busiest resorts on the Ligurian coast with a wonderful promenade and pebble beach. Besides, there’re many interesting architectural monuments in the town, as well as medieval streets known as “carruggi”.
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Photo: Davide Papalini, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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Lavagna
The largest historical festival in the Gulf of Tigulio takes place in Lavagna. It is called Fieschi Cake and is celebrated in honor of Opizzo Fieschi’s wedding with the aristocrat Bianca de Bianchi in Siena in 1230.
Photo: Davide Papalini, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: Davide Papalini, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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Italian Riviera: Sestri Levante
The town of Sestri Levante is sandwiched between the Bay of Silence and the Bay Fairy Tales, for which it received the nickname “The City of Two Seas”. The ancient architecture is surprisingly in harmony with the pristine nature, and no wonder that Hans Christian Andersen himself was fascinated by this picturesque place and wrote some of his works here.
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Photo: Davide Papalini, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: Jiuguang Wang / flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Photo: Davide Papalini, from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Italian Riviera: Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre is 18 km of coastline where sea and land have come together to create this unique world, rich in coves, beaches, mountain chains running parallel to the sea, terraces of olive trees and vineyards, whose tranquility is protected by ancient stone walls. Colorful, bright houses stay close to each other among rock crevices, citrus groves, vineyards, lush subtropical vegetation descending to the seashore. Miraculously preserved pristine Mediterranean nature and original architecture of the Middle Ages are the main attractions of the Cinque Terre.
Cinque Terre on map
