Portofino
At 5 kilometres from Santa Margherita Ligure, we have Portofino with its Piazzetta and the painted facades of the houses, its castle and port. Portofino is synonymous of worldliness and glamour.
Starting from the Piazzetta where the best brands of international shopping are located. Going uphill on foot takes you to the Church of San Giorgio, which is located on the "crest" of the promontory where you will be able to see Portofino on one side and the waves of the Ligurian Sea breaking on the cliff on the other.
If you carry on walking you will firstly you will see Castello Brown followed by the Lighthouse where you can enjoy a unique view of the entire Gulf. By looking carefully, especially during the quieter hours, you may even see dolphins emerge from the sea.
As an alternative to the worldliness and the life of the centre, the "Regional Park of Monte di Portofino" offers hikers a valid attraction, with its well-marked paths through which such towns as San Fruttuoso, Punta Chiappa, San Rocco and many others, may be reached. Click on the following link for more information on the paths and services offered.
The Cinque Terre
The 5 Terre which are a UNESCO World Heritage, offer visitors some fabulous views, in some places making you feel like the protagonist of a natural postcard.
Each village has its own particularity and they are all to be discovered. Walk in the "carrugi", among small craft shops, focaccerie and restaurants, tasting flavours of the past. Stroll along the paths among olive trees and the "fasce”, terraces of land that rise along the steep hill where farmers cultivate grapes that will later become the famous Sciacchetrà wine. Dive into the blue sea for a moment of relaxation.
The 5 Terre can be discovered and visited in many ways: walking along the paths: the blue path, the most famous one that runs along the coast or the route to the Sanctuaries that runs high up along the hill.
The 5 Terre may be reached by boat from Santa Margherita Ligure or by means of the service on site.
By train buying the 5 Terre Card that, with a single ticket, will allow you to get on and off the train throughout the day and visit the area in complete freedom.
Camogli
A seaside village that deserves to be discovered. The promenade with its beach surrounded by colourful houses in typical Genoese style. The island with its medieval castle and finally the harbour where you will see the nets of the "tonnara” drying in the sun, or the fishermen who adjust their nets on their return from fishing. A town where you can rediscover times from the past and you must not forget to taste a piece of the excellent focaccia with cheese.
Every year on the second Sunday of May a Fish Festival is organized in Camogli. A very large pan (about 4 meters in diameter) is the symbol of this Festival in which fish is fried and distributed free to tourists. The evening before the festival there is a religious celebration in honour of San Fortunato, the patron of fishermen. The fireworks display, and the bonfire fire mark the beginning of the festivities.
San Fruttuoso
In a small bay that weaves between Camogli and Portofino you can visit one of the pearls of Liguria: San Fruttuoso. The beautiful Bay can only be reached by sea or on foot along the paths of Monte di Portofino.
The bay is dominated by the Abbey dating back to 1000 AD, the prominent beach, the Torre dei Doria and a few fishermen's houses. In 1983 it became part of the architectural heritage of FAI (Italian Environmental Fund).
A few meters from the shore, accessible by swimming or with one of the local fishermen’s boats, there’s the famous statue of the "Christ of the Abyss", located on the seabed 17 meters deep; on days when the sea is clear, it is also visible to the naked eye.
Rapallo
Is 4 km from Santa Margherita Ligure. Walking along the promenade you will see the symbol of this town: The Castle on the sea, built in 1551 against the raids of Saracen pirates. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro (XVI century), is a place of religious interest, reachable with the only active cableway in Liguria, at 612 meters of altitude.
From the 1st July at 8.00 am until the evening of the 3rd July, on occasion of the festivities in honour of the city's Patron, Rapallo is animated by Pyrotechnic Shows and by the shots of the "Ligurian Mascoli" and the stands that colour the streets of the historic centre.
Genova
Genoa is one of the 5 Maritime Republics and the Capital of Liguria, it has developed around the Port. It is rich of historic buildings, exhibitions and events.
It is an unmissable stop for those who want to experience a day in history. Places to visit: the Old Town and the Ancient Port with its Aquarium that amazes both children and adults, the "Fainotti" and the markets where you can stop for a break street food style, the historic breathtaking buildings with their exhibitions and architecture, the church of San Lorenzo of the year one thousand in Romanesque-Gothic style and much more ...