We end our look at the beautiful Italian Riviera with two final stops in the province of Genoa and a foray into La Spezia, home to perhaps the most famous postcard image of the entire Liguria region.
Another spot in a littany of towns that dot the coast with a picturesque harbour and waterfront, Chiavari is home to just under 30,000 people. A backdrop of lush mountains and the Entella River makes the town a superb natural escape. On the weekends Chiavari comes alive with two distinct markets that offer wonderful local produce and antiques and a number of outdoor musical concerts.
The final Riviera stop in the province of Genoa, Sestre Levante sits on a peninsula that overlooks two bays. All in all, a nice spot for the 20,000 people who live here. A circular line of beautiful pastel structures line the waterfront, with a hillside fortress in the background. The town confines, although small and tidy, offer a surfeit of cultural events and sites. The old centre is rich with historic architecture of course and ancient churches, palazzos and villas seem to spring up around every corner. The mountains that circumnavigate Sestre Levante have some terrific trails to commune with nature, Italian Riviera style. Local cuisine is simple, authentic and top notch.
Our first stop in the province of La Spezia is the commune of Levanto. A favourite destination with surfers, the town is surrounded by some of the best scenery in Liguria. The coastal culmination of a lush valley, with pine and olive trees galore, Levanto also borders a section of Cinque Terre National Park. The principal town squares of Piazza della Loggia and Piazza Cavour are wonderful points from which to explore Levanto at large. From religious architecture, a medieval castle and typical 17th century structures, the town has a lot of charm to offer tourists.
The collection of five villages that comprise Cinque Terre provide the most iconic images of the Italian Riviera. Neatly stacked pastel buildings, cloistered tightly, towering perilously on cliffs overlooking bright blue waters: this is the Cinque Terre we all know and love. The towns of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are much more than that of course. Little worlds unto themselves, geographically isolated, car-free and incredibly romantic, together as Cinque Terre they provide visitors with a completely unique experience.
Monterosso al Mare has the only true, touristy beach of the lot. Vernazza is perhaps the only authentic fishing village left in the area and boasts a wonderful little 14th century church. Corniglia is the only commune in Cinque Terre not directly on the sea, sitting instead on a promontory amid steep vineyard terraces. Manarola has narrow little lanes, ideal for strolling and exploration, and the colourful old town dangles above a wavy, rocky shoreline. Riomaggiore might be the most recognizable to outsiders coming to here for the first time. The ascending pastel buildings that make up the town provide some of the best caf?s and trattorias, not to mention views of the Gulf of Genoa, in all of Cinque Terre.
Escape to gorgeous Cinque Terre with superb hotel deals.
With a capital of 220,000, the biggest town in the province of La Spezia is the capital. A military and commercial harbour town, there are nonetheless enough attractions to draw a fair number of tourists, other than the fact La Spezia serves as the main departure point for Cinque Terre. Churches and museums for one, not to mention spectacular panoramic views of the town and Gulf of La Spezia. If you escape the shipyards and visit the Castle of San Girogio, Palazzina della Arte and Art Nouveau villas, La Spezia will prove worthwhile.
The last Riviera port of call in La Spezia, for our purposes at least, is the tiny commune of Lerici. With only 10,000 permanent residents, the town is quaint, cozy and has a familiar history in the region, going all the way back to the Etruscans. Not so typical however, is the fact that Lerici was home and source of inspiration to Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley, who famously met his death in the Gulf of La Spezia, known by many since as the Gulf of Poets. With beautiful architecure, ancient castles, grand villas and ferry connections to Cinque Terre, Lerici is a magnificent spot.
Start your dream vacation to the Italian Riviera with some terrific hotel deals.
Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Responses to this Article
Leave a Reply