Liguria, facing the Tyrrhenian Sea, forms an imposing arc, with the Gulf of Genoa in its center. It is a mountainous and hilly region, which includes part of the Maritime Alps and the Ligurian Apennines, whose the spurs plunge almost everywhere into the sea, leaving scant space to the plains, which form a narrow coastline. Here landscapes of great beauty can be admired. The region is divided in two sections: the Riviera di Ponente (to the west), from Ventimiglia to Genova, and the Riviera di Levante (to the east), from Genoa to La Spezia. The terminal strip of the Riviera di Levante is known as “Le Cinque Terre” (the Five Lands - Hotels The Cinque Terre) and still today represents a beautiful example of intact landscape.
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Recommended hotels Liguria
Bellevue Hotel Genoa
Occupying a central position in Genoa, the hotel is situated just 50 metres away from the railway station, Principe, as well as from the Air Terminal and 200 metres from the harbour.
During your stay in Genoa you can easily explore the many sights that this enchanting city has to offer, such as the Aquarium, situated in the Ancient Port Area with all its activities: the Children's Town; The Antarctic Museum; and the Galata Sea Museum.
There are also many palaces which you can visit: Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo San Giorgio and the wonderful Garibaldi Street. You can also see the museums of Palazzo Bianco (White Palace); Palazzo Rosso (Red Palace); the National Gallery of the Real Palace, of Palazzo Spinola; The Museum of Oriental Art; the Civic Museum of Natural History; and the original Castello D'Albertis.
Piedmont & Liguria Tours, Sightseeing & Things to Do
Genoa - Genoa is ideally placed for day trips to other Italian cities such as Milan (145 km) and Turin (170 km), both easily accessible by train and road.
UNESCO describes Genoa's system of Strade Nuove Palazzi dei Rolli (from the late 16th and early 17th centuries) as the 'first example in Europe of an urban development project'. The Rolli palaces were residences built by the wealthiest and most powerful aristocratic families of the Republic of Genoa, at the height of its financial and seafaring power.
Attractions in and around this fascinating city include:
Genoa Aquarium (1.3 km) - Visit the sea creatures at Europe's largest aquarium.
Galata Maritime Museum (1700 metres) - With more than 10,000 metres of exhibition space, this excellent museum houses a careful reconstruction of a 17th century Genoese Galea, a 19th century brig-schooner, the Storm room, the Italian Transatlantic room and more than 6000 original items.
Portofino (Hotels Portofino) - Take a boat trip to this resort of the rich and famous. A picturesque, half-moon shaped seaside village with pastel houses lining the harbour, Portofino's crystalline green waters reveal an impressive display of aquatic life. The 16th century castle is also well worth a visit.
Cinque Terre (70 km) - These 5 small fishing villages hugging the Ligurian coastline are one of the jewels of this region. If you are feeling energetic, take the train out to Riomaggiore, then walk along Lover's Lane (Via dell'Amore) all the way to Monterosso, savouring the stunning views as you go. You can also take the train between all villages. Hotels Genoa - Last Minute Hotels Genoa
La Spezia - Known as Italy’s major commercial harbor, La Spezia plays an important role set between the cities of Genoa and Pisa. With the Apuan Alps nestled behind this port city, La Spezia offers the ideal departure point for reaching La Cinque Terre by either train or boat.
Tourist attractions: the Ship Museum, a historical museum of the Italian navy, situated inside the Military Arsenal; the centre for the Modern and Contemporary Fine Art (CAMEC); the Lia Museum, with its private collection of art works; and the Sigillo Museum.
By the extreme land of the eastern Liguria, where the city of La Spezia arises, between the blue of the sea and and the green bush of the coast, the Gulf of Poets shows its small villages full of grace, like Portovenere, Le grazie, Lerici, Tellaro, Fiascherino, and the fashinating island of Palmario and Tino.
A special note to the Cinque terre National Park, beteween the area of Tramonti - few kms from La Spezia and Mesco Cape. Take the opportunity to visit the whole area of the park both by sea by railway, and for them more courageous and keen for trekking, by short and wonderful pathways.
Also don’t miss the tiny villages of this ligurian extreme land are testimonial of very ancient times, still keeping the fashion and atmosphere of their prestigeous origin, like the Roman location of Luni, or the middleaged hamlet of Portovenere. Hotels La Spezia
Santa Margherita Ligure - Santa Margherita Ligure or simply "Santa", so called by its inhabitants and by several habituées, both italians and foreigners, offers entertainement and rest. There, one can spend a weekend or holidays in every season. In fact thanks to its mild climate, to the beauty of its sea promenade, to the joyful life that features the town, it has become a meeting place for many international vips and simply of those people wishing spending holidays in one of the most beautiful areas of Liguria. The unmistakable charm of this place can be found in its well-known beaches, in its villas splendour, the marina, its trendy clubs, its high class shopping. moreover Santa Margherita Ligure is an ideal base for trips and excursions: to the nearby Portofino (Hotels Portofino), to the picturesque village of San Fruttuoso di Camogli, to the famous Cinque Terre, to the marvellous Genoa, European Capital of culture 2004. Hotels Santa Margherita Ligure
Sanremo - Sanremo is a popular city in the Ligurian Riviera di Ponente where the European aristocracy once spent their holidays due to the mild climate and beautiful scenery.
Its medieval centre known as La Pigna and its beautiful beach and public park areas still make it popular today.
Sanremo, known as The City of Flowers due to its numerous flower plantations, has a number of tourist attractions and facilities, including a theatre, picturesque harbour, 18-hole golf-course, tennis club and riding ground. Hotels Sanremo
Rapallo - “Golfo del Tigullio” includes 28 km of ligure coast: Portofino (Hotels Portofino), Paraggi, Santa Margherita Ligure. Rapallo and Zoagli, are the top names in fashionable, high class in holidays resort.Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore: these five towns make up the Cinque Terre area with nine kilometres of coast and 14 kilometres of mountain paths. The name “Cinque Terre” dates back to 1418 and appears for the first time in the writings of the Genoese chancellor Giacomo Bracelli. In all of the towns the houses appear to be piled one on top of the other - space is precious in the Cinque Terre and is not to be wasted, therefore town dwellings have grown vertically. For this same reason the land is cultivated using “terraces”, which are often held upright using dry stone walls as supports. Hotels Rapallo
Levanto - Levanto is beautifully placed in the extreme east of the Riviera, halfway from Genoa and Pisa, very close to the prized Cinque Terre and Portovenere.It has been an appreciated and well known seaside resort since the beginning of last century.
In and around Levanto you can enjoy a vast choice of outdoors activities. From diving, sailing, surfing, windsurfing, canoeing and other sea sports, to horse riding and paragliding. You can also enjoy beautiful excursions on boat or pleasant walks. Hotels Levanto
The beaches
A public beach with an exclusive vibe, the Baia del Silenzio in the elegant isthmus beach town of Sestri Levante (Hotels Sestri Levante), has black-and-white-striped Genoese churches and grand palazzi sitting right on the sand next to panini-eating families. You have to get to the crystalline bay of Paraggi early to grab a spot on the patch of public beach if you don't want to fight for an overpriced umbrella with the moneyed hordes over from Portofino (Hotels Portofino) in search of sand.
There's plenty of room at Finale Ligure (Hotels Finale Ligure), the coast's family hotspot, blessed with long, white beaches, a marina and an old medieval walled town. The last resort (before the Tuscan border that is): Liguria's final flourish is a three mile stretch of coast with sharp inlets, quiet bays and pristine sandy beaches between the towns of Fiascherino (Hotels Fiascherino) and Tellaro, otherwise known as the Golfo dei Poeti for its links to Petrarch, Byron, DH Lawrence, and Shelley, who all lived (and in Shelley's case, died) here.
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