Portofino
Surrounded by the greenery of the Mediterranean scrub and facing the clear blue waters of the Ligurian Sea, Portofino is one of the most renown destinations of the Region. Today you can see majestic luxury yachts in its little port and it’s easy to meet VIPs and celebrities at the places in the famous little square. However, the fame of the bay of Portofino can also be seen in the past: indeed, it has always been a safe harbour for ships and boats thanks to its shape. The history of the village proceeds in stages. Pliny the Elder narrated that in Roman times the name of the location was Portus Delphini. With the domination of the Republic of Genoa, the defence system was implemented. In the 19th century Napoleon’s troops were bravely pushed away from the castle in which they were barricaded. Lastly, tourism arrived, which made this little gem of Liguria famous all over the world and attracted stars and famous personalities such as Churchill, Grace of Monaco, Clark Gable, Marcello Mastroianni, Liza Minnelli and many more.
How to get there
Portofino is located in the province of Genoa, which overlooks what is known as the Gulf of Tigullio.
You can reach the village by car: take the highway A12 and exit at Rapallo, then continue and follow signs for Santa Margherita – Portofino. Once you’ve reached your destination, you need to leave your car in the only pay and display car park of the village, in Piazza Martiri della Libertà.
Alternatively, you can take the train, get off at the station of Rapallo and walk from there (it’s about 1 hour and 20 minutes on foot) or catch a bus (line 82).
From Sestri Levante you can also take one of the boats provided by the Tigullio Marine Service to reach Portofino by sea (it’s the line Sestri Levante – Lavagna – Chiavari – Portofino – San Fruttuoso).
Although the village of Portofino is little and its inhabitants are no more than a few hundred, there are many things to do and to see in the area, and it’s advisable to make a note before your arrival so that you can best organize your visit.
The village
Nestled between seas and mountains, the village of Portofino is a little gem: what stands out are the bright colours of the facades surrounding the famous little square that goes down gently towards the small port. There are many monuments you can’t miss, and among these we suggest the Oratory of Nostra Signora Assunta, the Church of Divo Martino and the Church of San Giorgio, in which the remains of the Patron Saint of Portofino are preserved and from its square you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the village. To admire another gorgeous landscape, we suggest you continue on to Castle Brown (also known as Castle of San Giorgio), an old military fortress that today is a perfect location for exhibitions, meetings and events. From here you can continue until you reach the Portofino Lighthouse, which has been active since 1910. If you love shopping, in the little village there are some shops with major luxury brands and a few artistic ateliers. Souvenirs are relatively expensive here, but it’s almost impossible to resist the temptation to buy a jar of pesto to bring back to your friends.
The Regional Natural Park
A peculiarity of Portofino is the fact that it’s located inside one of the most extraordinary natural areas in Liguria: the promontory reaches 600 metres above sea level and it overlooks stunning waters with shades of turquoise and emerald.
The Portofino Regional Natural Park is one of the best places to go for a walk in nature or a slightly harder hike. Indeed, there are about 80 km of trails inside, that twist and turn among nature and ancient historical testimony.
Among the trails that start from the coast of Portofino (“Portofino Mare”), we suggest the path to San Fruttuoso and the evocative Abbey, the easy path to the Lighthouse, the one to the Hermitage of Niasca and the one to the Gassetta Mill, where you can enjoy a pleasant picnic.
Inside the Portofino Regional Natural Park there are also numerous mountain bike trails.
The Protected Marine Area
The Portofino Regional Natural Park also includes the Protected Marine Area. On the jagged coastline, the cove of San Fruttuoso and the one of Cala dell’Oro stand out for their beauty. Then there’s the submerged reefs that are full of life, and a series of unique partial views between the crags that plummet into the sea, with the vegetation that almost touches the water. It’s a gorgeous place just waiting to be discovered: you can do that by kayak or going scuba diving to explore the seafloor. There are many schools that offer courses or day trips.
If besides exploring the area you also wish to spend a few hours relaxing, then you should know that in the surroundings of Portofino there are some nice little beaches where you can have a swim and relax in the sun. The most beautiful and renown of them all is definitely the Bay of Paraggi. Its emerald waters and the seafloor full of life have made it famous all over the world and it’s one of the favourite destinations of VIPs today. We suggest you go to the beach early in the morning so that you can find a spot for your towel, but especially to enjoy the sun since it starts disappearing in the early afternoon. Besides Paraggi we recommend the little Cannone Bay, perfect for couples, and the Bay of Niasca, a great place for snorkelling.
What to eat and drink
A trip to Portofino isn’t complete without tasting the local delicacies. Since it’s the province of Genoa, focaccia and pesto are a must, but to try something special you need to look for the Salsetta Portofino: a delicious mix of tomato sauce and pesto. And for a toast? Definitely a glass of Golfo del Tigullio – Portofino or of Portofino DOC.
In order to visit Portofino and its wonders you definitely need an entire day, but in case you have some spare time, among the places to visit in the surroundings we suggest the already mentioned Abbey of San Fruttuoso (you can reach it by taking a boat at the little port), the distinctive village of Camogli and the larger towns of Santa Margherita Ligure and Rapallo.