Portofino - View of Houses and Boats

Portofino is a beautiful village along the Italian Riviera, considered by many one of the eight wonders of the world. It's a small town of no more than 500 residents in the middle of a small bay that has become famous all over the world. Portofino is a picturesque fishing village with multicolored houses that face on a harbor with crystalline green water. It became famous for "La Dolce Vita", in fact, many actors, actresses, pop stars and rich nobles, began to frequent it for its sunsets, breathtaking views and exclusive parties.

Today in Portofino, people come here to feel good with themselves, because it is a beautiful and a relaxing place, full of magic. Thanks to the typical Mediterranean climate and the beauty of its landscapes, Portofino has been a prime tourist destination for decades. Tourists have the possibility to chose from a different categories of hotels and shops of every type.

Getting to Portofino

Palaces overlooking the sea in Portofino

I suggest you to get to Portofino using the narrow scenic road along the coast from Santa Margherita Ligure, you will appreciate the view of the bay! From Genoa's Old Port you can get the ferry that takes you in Portofino. More information here: http://www.liguriaviamare.it/ http://www.traghettiportofino.it/ .

For lovers of trekking there is the possibility to reach Portofino crossing the Mountain using a long path that begins from Camogli/San Fruttuoso and take you to the village.I advise you to come in Portofino mainly from April to September, it's the best period.<

Portofino's Treasures

Cafe on quay in Portofino harbor.

From via Roma, in Portofino, you can get to the famous "Piazzetta", a little square always full of people, that makes you feel like you are in your living room. All around the square there are shops, boutiques, restaurants.

On the top of a rock there is the Church of San Giorgio, rebuilt after the last war. The original one was built in 1154. Inside it there are the relics of St. George, brought there by the sailors of the crusades. The abbey of Saint George can be reached by the footpath from the Piazzetta. I recommend you to continue the path and reach the Lighthouse of Portofino, from here the view is breathtaking.

From San Giorgio church take the path that goes to Castello Brown, a castle surrounded by a Mediterranean garden full of flowers, roses and pergolas. All around the landscape is enchanting. The fortress was built during the medieval period as a military structure. Strengthened by Napoleon, then it became the residence of the english consul, Yeast Brown. Today, the castle is the property of the Municipality and it is used for exhibitions.

Nearby Portofino, there is a little inlet, called Paraggi. A "jewel" with crystalline water and the fortress Castello Bonomi. The beach of Paraggi is also a great place for lovers of diving, with its grounds of red coral and the wreck of a freighter in 1917 to be explored.

Portofino - Black and white cobblestones form a large star

Wine and Food

Villa on the hills over Portofino

The elegant restaurants or characteristic trattorias in Portofino offers dishes that suit every need, choosing from the wide variety of possibilities offered by a cuisine rich in tradition, accompanied by red and white Ligurian wines. You can taste local specialities which include dishes such as pansoti (stuffed pasta) with walnut sauce or pesto sauce, vegetables pies, and traditional stuffed vegetables that are combined with light and tasty fish dishes. Local seafood is fished daily in Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure and Sestri Levante.

By our Liguria tour guide Anna Merulla