A Guide to Liguria

Long beaches, cliffs that plunge into the sea and magnificent national parks make Liguria one of Italy's most popular vacation destinations. Its sea-driven cuisine draws chefs and food lovers from around the world.

This stretch of coastline is the Italian Riviera. It includes Genova, Sanremo, Portofino and the Cinque Terre, and each offers its own Ligurian experience. The Mediterranean runs through Italian veins, and few regions are as tied to its sparkling water as Liguria, a strip of coast along the northwestern shores of il bel paese.

Genova

Genova was a powerful maritime city for the first half of the second millennium. Today it has two parts: the Old City, steeped in trade and fishing history, and the New City, with its modern buildings and industry.

Most visitors head for the historic center. There you find the old port, or Porto Antico, and a lively mix of restaurants, shops and caruggi, the small, narrow alleyways. Along the Strade Nuove, or new streets, stand the Palaces of Genova. UNESCO named them a World Heritage Site in 2006 for their Renaissance and Baroque style and as the first example of European urban planning.

Pilgrims often stop at the Church of San Lorenzo, which houses the ashes of Saint John the Baptist. Music lovers can catch opera, ballet and concerts at the Teatro San Carlo Felice.

Liguria gave Italian cuisine pesto and farinata, the small chickpea tarts. Still, the fresh, versatile seafood in this port town wins our hearts. Try Antica Osteria di Vico Palla, not far from Porto Antico.

Sanremo

Sanremo sits in the western corner of the province of Imperia. The city is best known for tourism: hotels, shopping and dining, including the Michelin-starred Paolo e Barbara, plus beautiful beaches.

Two more reasons to visit: Villa Nobel, where Alfred Nobel died in 1896, and the Sanremo Music Festival, a popular Italian song contest.

Portofino

Portofino began as a fishing village in southern Liguria and could be called the region's answer to Sardinia's Emerald Coast. It started turning heads in the 1950s, when "Love in Portofino" was released worldwide and the town became a vacation spot for actors, artists and celebrities.

The trend continues. The town is full of luxury hotels, such as the Belmond Hotel Splendido, along with shops and restaurants. For shopping, we like Calzoleria Mingo for artisan shoes and the Spinnaker boutique, which also has a shop in Sanremo.

Food lovers can book a private wine tasting or dine at Puny, where Richard Burton proposed to Elizabeth Taylor. For a more relaxed lunch, try Trattoria Concordia. Portofino is also known for superb sailing and yachting, a good way to see more of the coastline.

Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre is a string of five towns on the Ligurian coast, about an hour and a half from Florence, and it sits high on many American travelers' bucket lists. It has exploded in popularity over the last few decades.

The towns are beautiful but small, with little lodging. Look at La Spezia, Santa Margherita Ligure or Portofino for overnight stays. From any of them, or from Florence, you can make a day trip: hike the 10 kilometers between the towns, or take a boat or train. A sunset boat tour sets you apart from the crowds and shows off towns built into the cliffs.

Buon viaggio!

Eataly Magazine is pleased to publish a guest post by Martina Zuccarello of Select Italy, an agency specializing in Italian travel.