Holidays in Liguria

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Liguria is the smallest region of Italy and sits in the northwest of the peninsula. It is divided into the Riviera di Ponente that stretches west from Genoa to the French border and the Riviera di Levante that stretches east from Genoa to the Tuscan border. This last has not only some of Italy's most popular resorts but also a hinterland of beautiful mountain passes, off the tourist path.If you want to relax at the beach, better to go to Liguria when the weather allows staying near the sea. To take a dip, the best period is from June until September. The climate along the coast is temperate and this means that there is always a breeze even in the summer and temperatures are on average around 28C also in July and August. There are more sandy and rocky beaches on the west coast and only a few on the eastern shore. On the west coast, choose the small resorts of Spotorno, Noli, and Varigotti which are more picturesque than the bigger ones. On the eastern coast, there are tiny beaches in Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure, and Sestri Levante. Larger sandy beaches are in Moneglia and Levanto. There are opportunities for boat tours, diving, tuna fishing, surf, and windsurf.

Worth to visit  Genoa,  the capital of the region has one of the best-preserved and authentic old center in Italy It's a maze of 'carrugi',  narrow alleyways that hide beautiful palazzos. Genoa has Europe's biggest aquarium, a maritime museum and a cutting edge discovery center for children, the Città dei Bambini. West of Genoa is the Riviera di Ponente which is ideal for family beach holidays. The small cozy villages like Spotorno, Noli, and Varigotti are a better choice than the bigger resorts. East of Genoa, on the Riviera di Levante, there are the trendy and chic Portofino and the stylish fishing village of Camogli.  A boat trip to the former abbey at San Fruttuoso is a unique experience. Nearby Santa Margherita is the spot where the wealthy Milanese have their summer house and has some excellent restaurants and hotels. Further east, the rocky coast gives way to the two beautiful sandy bays at Sestri Levante. There are sandy beaches also in Moneglia and Levanto. These are great bases to explore the Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a short train ride away. The five little villages of the Cinque Terre -Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore - offer breath-taking views and great opportunities for hiking. Here are the famous footpaths, the Sentiero Azzurro, which takes a day to walk, and the Via dell'Amore, the Lover's Walk that is one of the prettiest coastal paths in Italy.

Accommodation Family may prefer choosing accommodation within walking distance from the beach. It can be a good option to stay inland, up-hill where boutique hotels have a pool, a garden, and romantic sea-views but you need the car to reach the beach. 

Food & Wine Food is one of Liguria's biggest attractions. This is the home of the famous basil pasta sauce, pesto and the mouth-watering flatbread focaccia - very popular is the focaccia di Recco, filled with cheese. Genoa's vast trading empire also gave the Ligurians a sweet tooth and a taste for candied fruit and ice cream. Wine lovers'  will enjoy a glass of the finest Ligurian wines 'Rossese' and 'Cinque Terre'.

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