Trips & Activities

Glamorous, refined, sensual: Portofino is all of this and more.

Take some time to browse the artisan shops and luxury boutiques around the town's famous square - you never know, you might just bump into Prince Casiraghi, Roman Abramovich, Gwyneth Paltrow or Monica Bellucci, all regular visitors to these parts.

But it isn't just about the Dolce Vita on the Riviera, Portofino is much, much more: romantic sunsets on the marina, cafés and restaurants to while away the evening, and historic monuments such as San Giorgo Castle and the church of the same name.

You also find footpaths to explore along the coast, offering the most wonderful views of the Tigullio Gulf.

Portofino Nature Park has been a protected area since 1935, spanning 18 km of land and 13 km off the coast.

Footpaths, trails and excursions await, as you discover this beautiful area of natural interest.

Paraggi is a small commune close to Santa Margherita, famous for its golden sand and emerald sea, a favourite of VIP guests.

Its beach resorts are some of the Coast's most exclusive.

Picturesque and bursting with life, the town of Rapallo is most famous for its long promenade, home to some of the region's most desirable venues.

But the hamlet also offers beautiful historic buildings and little boutiques, as well as a wealth of shops and restaurants scattered along its characteristic narrow streets.

The Sixteenth-Century Castle is well worth a visit, today a popular exhibition venue, and don't miss the Valle Christi Monastery, which dates all the way back to the 1200s.

This delightful little town overlooking the sea is a joy to behold.

The multicoloured houses around the old marina, and the rich nature of the surrounding Paradiso Gulf make this pretty hamlet a must-visit spot.

The striking Dragonara Castle offers wonderful views of the intricate criss-cross streets at the hamlet's centre.

The Fish Festival which takes place on the second Sunday of May is not to be missed.

There are few destinations as pretty as San Fruttuoso Bay, a little cove nestled between rocky spurs and turquoise sea, only accessible on foot or by water.

Here the Abbey, which dates back to the year 1000, the Church, the Doria Tower and the small number of houses come together to create a truly magical setting.

And right here, 18 m beneath the surface of the sea, there is a submerged Statue of Christ, which each year at the end of August is adorned with a laurel wreath by a team of divers, at the end of an evocative ceremony in memory of all those who have lost their lives at sea.

The Cinque Terre are a Unesco World Heritage Site: Monterosso, Manarola, Vernazza, Corniglia and Riomaggiore, five enchanting towns overlooking the sea, sunny and quaint, nestled amidst rocks in an unrivalled marine setting.

Be sure to explore them all, perhaps along the "Via dell'Amore", a scenic road only accessible on foot, which passes by each of the five communes.

A small hamlet in the province of La Spezia, at the end of the peninsula that forms the western shore of the Gulf of Poets, so-called because it has been celebrated by countless poets, from Petrarch to Shelly, Byron and Montale.

Take a trip to the Church of San Pietro, overlooking the sea, and the island archipelago comprising Tino, Tinetto and Palmaria, for some of the Riviera's most untouched waters.

With its characteristic houses and narrow roads straddling the headland, Portovenere offers some truly breathtaking views.

Lerici, a picturesque marine hamlet overlooking the Gulf of Poets, has ancient origins.

Medieval in structure, with typical narrow alleyways, shops and small houses, the town has many attractions to offer, from the Jewish ghetto to the San Rocco Tower, the 1200s castle and the beautiful waterfront.

The marina and the many fish restaurants are the ideal choice for a food and wine excursion to remember.

Genoa is a city rich in monuments and attractions, thriving by day and by night.

Take a trip to the Aquarium with its new dolphinarium, admire the sunset from the Bigo, Genoa's panoramic wheel, stroll around the Old Port and stop off for an aperitif at Piazza delle Erbe, the heart of the Genoese social scene.