The Riviera Levante and Ponente
Mar 18th, 2008 by riviera
The Riviera di Levante is the coast east of Genoa. Despite their evident popularity it ensures pretty walking and dramatic scenery.
The green lands around Portofino, Italy’s wealthiest promontory 38km east of Genoa, are protected by the Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino.
Wandering Camogli’s alleys and cobbled streets, 25km east of Genoa, it is hard not to be taken aback by the painstaking trompe l’oeil decoration. From here, boats nip across to Punta Chiappi, a rocky crop on the Portofino promontory.
San Fruttuoso is dominated by the Benedictine abbey Abbazia di San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte. San Fruttuoso is only accessibile on foot from Camogli or Portofino. Portofino is Liguria’s most chichi spot. The huddle of pastel-coloured houses around the portside square is a delight.
Heading north along the coastal road is the Abbazia della Cervara which is surrounded by monumental gardens.
Santa Margherita is known for its orange blossoms and lace. In a sheltered bay on the eastern side of Portofino promontory on the Golfo di Tigullio, its waterfront is a jumble of one-time fishing cottages, elegant hotels with Liberty facades and moored million-dollar yachts.
Sailing, waterskiing, scuba diving and walking opportunities abound. Rapallo, overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio, has an air of bustle independent of tourists that towns further down the promontory lack.
Bright blue changing cabins line its sandy beach and lend the palm-tree-studded waterfront an old-fashioned air. The stretch of coast between the Portofino promontory and the Cinque Terre has some of the Riviera di Levante’s best beaches, although the rash of resorts – Chiavari, Lavagna, Sestri Levante, Deiva Marina and Levanto. Chiavari, with an arcaded old town is the main access point inland.
La Spezia is a large naval base and a provincial capital. The city centre is sandwiched between the naval base and the commercial port.
Porto Venere is 12km south of La Spezia. At the end of the quay a Cinque Terre panorama unfolds from the rocky terraces of Grotta Arpaia. Just off the promontory lies the tiny islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto.
At the southeastern end of the Riviera di Levante, Lerici is an exclusive summer refuge for wealthy Italians.
From Lerici a scenic 3km coastal stroll leads north to San Terenzo, a seaside village with a sandy beach and Genoese castle.
Another coastal stroll, 4km south, takes you past magnificent little bays to Tellaro, a fishing hamlet.
Val di Magra forms the easternmost tongue of Ligurian territory. Nature walks abound in this region, much of which is protected by the Parco di Montemarcello-Magra which has an information centre in Sarzana.
Stretching southwest from Genoa to France, the Riviera di Ponente is more developed than the eastern side. Savona’s medieval centre is dominated by the baroque Cattedrale di Nostra Signora Assunta.
With a good beach and affordable accomodation, Finale Ligure is a handy base for exploring the Riviera di Ponente. Finale Marina, on the waterfront, is where most hotels and restaurants languish.
In addition to 3km of white beaches pretty Alassio boasts its own variety of baci, sugary concoctions comprising two biscuits whirls sandwiched together with chocolate cream.
Imperia is the main city of Liguria’s westernmost province, commonly known as the Riviera dei Fiori.
San Remo gained prominence as a resort for Europe’s social elite, in the mid to late 19th century. Today, although a few hotels thrive as luxury resorts, many from that period are long past their prime and are cut off from the beach by the railway line. In September is held the Rallye San Remo.
A few kilometres west of San Remo is built up Bordighera. Bordighera’s fame rests on a centuries-old monopoly of the Holy Week palm business. The Vatican selects its branches exclusively from the palms along the promenade, Lungomare Argentina.
Ventimiglia’s Roman ruins include an amphitheatre. Its medieval town squats on a hill on the western bank of the River Roia.
This beautiful sea view Villa above Lerici is for sale
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