Life Beyond the Room Custom Travel
Liguria
Population: 1.55 million
Best time to visit: September/October
Suggested length of stay: 7 days
Must experiences:
- Hike the Cinque Terre, from Monterosso to Riomaggiore
- Sunset aperitivo in Manarola
- Pesto making class in Genova
- Sip on local wines like like Vermentino and Pigato
- Hike in the Portofino Natural Park
- Sunbathe at Baia dei Saraceni
- Visit the markets of La Spezia
Rugged cliffs, turquoise waters, and colorful houses perched on hillsides combined with fresh seafood, exquisite pesto, and world-famous Focaccia give its visitors a glimpse of paradise that one never wants to leave.
The Ligurian peninsula in the northwest of Italy, a short drive east of Genoa, is a gorgeous region of colorful fishing villages, beautiful beaches and historic monuments. Liguria, often referred to as the Italian Riviera, is a favorite holiday destination amongst many northern Italians.
The Riviera is divided into two sections. To the west is the Riviera di Ponente (meaning coast of the setting sun) while to the east is Riviera di Levante (coast of the rising sun). It’s most known for the glitzy harbor at Portofino and the pretty cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre, but there are many quieter coastal towns worth a visit.
The Cinque Terre offer a natural heritage of great variety: they have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a significant example of how mankind can shape the environment, respecting it.
These tiny five jewels are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, with narrow, pebbly beaches and trails that connect them all together, colorful fishermen houses and breathtaking views.
If you’re traveling with a family, you will want to keep in mind that Cinque Terre is not necessarily stroller friendly. Up and down stairs and steep hills dominate the landscape and while you can still enjoy daily excursions here, we recommend using Portovenere as a homebase. With longer stretches of beaches and easy to walk neighborhoods, staying here means a more relaxed barefoot vacation.
If you seek off the beaten path and daily adrenaline rushes, the town of Finale Ligure is a great choice for you. Epic mountain biking and hiking, diving, boating, kite surfing and many more adventure sports await you in this incredible yet to be discovered destination.