Visit Liguria to experience seaside Italy at its best. This is where rocky cliffs tumble down to the sea and candy-colored villages seem to cling to the rock faces. With scenic vistas around every corner, it is no surprise that romantics (and Romantic poets) have been drawn to this section of northern Italy for more than 200 years. Follow the coast to see its wonders, always keeping watch for the many whales that frolic just off shore.
Start the adventure in Genoa, the province’s capital and a former Renaissance superpower that once ruled the Western Mediterranean. Wander from the 16th-century Palazzi dei Rolli to the impressive art collections of the Palazzo Spinola di Pellicceria, then fast forward in time with a look at the Renzo Piano-designed Aquarium.
Once the big city has been explored, head out of town to the Cinque Terre, an 11-mile (18 kilometer) stretch of coast where the impossibly picturesque villages of Manarola, Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso seem on the verge of falling into the Mediterranean below.
Follow on the footsteps of Byron and Shelley by spending time in the town of Porto Venere, whose Bay of Poets is named for the two. Appreciate the finer things in life with a tour through the medieval castle of Lerici. In the spring, breathe in the heady scent of Sanremo, the city of flowers. Do not leave without devouring a plate of trenette with pesto, the region’s most iconic dish.
Liguria is a narrow, coastal province, stretching along the Mediterranean from the French border to just north of Pisa. Genoa’s Christopher Columbus Airport has numerous flights both within Europe and internationally. You can also travel to Genoa in 2 hours by train or car from Milan, or 3 hours’ drive from Florence. A robust system of trains and buses connect the various locations along the coast, including small towns, but a car can be useful for exploring the national parks further inland.
Add another country to the list by sneaking across the border to Monaco with its legendary Casino, where fin-de-siècle glamor is just a short drive or train ride away.
