Liguria Holidays

Liguria, or the Italian Riviera, is north-western Italy’s coastal region boasting beautiful beaches, picturesque towns and fantastic food: Italy’s world famous pesto sauce hails originally from here!

Portofino with its delightful harbour, central piazza perfect for al fresco dining and quaint multi-coloured houses is one of Italy’s premier resorts: managing to retain picturesque charm despite its popularity with jet-setters. Holidays to Portofino are a superb retreat, located around the harbour this Italian fishing visit is ideal for luxury Liguria holidays.

Rapallo, formerly a favoured haunt of poets and writers, is a larger resort boasting a number of attractions including a cable car to Santuario di Montallegro proffering stunning views, and Santa Margherita is a wonderfully old-fashioned Riviera resort: its esplanade perfect for day strolls and evening promenades. Rapallo is a premier choice of destination for holidays in Liguria, with grand hotels and stunning views it is a perfect holiday location for all discerning travellers.

In contrast to the sophisticated gastronomy of its neighbour to the north, Piedmont, the simple ingredients of Ligurian cuisine are the very essence of the Mediterranean diet with abundant seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, and the local, delicate olive oil. Fresh-grown herbs are used with fish, meat, pasta and, most famously, in pesto genovese which adorns many pasta dishes, or is drizzled into minestrone. Dining in a smart ristorante will, not unexpectedly, be more expensive than in a less formal trattoria, especially if you opt for the whole menu including antipasto, primo, secondo and dolce (dessert). Nonetheless, on holidays to Liguria the local dishes come highly recommended. Along the Ligurian coast, there’s a wide choice of eateries including pizzerias with authentic wood-fired ovens, wine-shops serving cheese and antipasto, and foccacerie and osteria for less formal dining. Ligurian wines are perfectly quaffable especially the whites with seafood, but wines from neighbouring Piedmont are more popular with enthusiasts.

For expert advice and to begin planning your luxury Liguria holiday, call our knowledgeable Italy specialists on 0800 294 9322

Sanremo has a wealth of excursions to offer its guests. With plenty of shops and places to eat and drink it is perfect for those wanting to relax and unwind in elegant surroundings.

Camogli is an appealing little port on the edge of the Portofino promontory and visitors will delight in strolling along its promenade or indulging in a spot of sunbathing on the steeply shelving beach.

Although not as chic as Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure (Santa) is a fashionable and lively resort with numerous waterfront restaurants and bars.

To the northwest of La Spezia is the World Heritage Site of the Cinque Terre: five ancient former fishing villages each with their own Gothic church and cluster of pastel-coloured houses clinging to the rocky slopes. The Cinque Terre is one of Italy's major tourist sites and it's best to avoid the crowds by visiting either in the early morning or at sunset

Further afield, Genoa is the largest seaport in Italy boasting a labyrinth of medieval alleyways, and numerous monuments, museums and galleries, in addition to San Lorenzo Cathedral with its dazzling façade, and an aquarium in the renovated port area. With a wealth of sights there are plenty of things to do in Genoa for those on holiday in the region.

For the walking enthusiasts there's a network of country footpaths and some delightful walks to San Fruttuoso cove with its stunning Abbey, and along the cliffs to the lighthouse via St George's Church. High above the harbour, our glamorous and suitably named hotel Splendido, still entices royalty and film stars amongst its illustrious guests.