Cinque Terre, Portofino, Genoa and other pearls of Liguria: road trip itinerary

We've put together a basic itinerary from La Spezia to Sanremo for those planning to drive along the coast by car. Buy your plane tickets, book your car and get on your way to adventure!

La Spezia

Florence airport is the closest to the starting point of the route, but you can also get here from Rome and Venice without any problems. Once you land on Italian soil, get behind the wheel and head to the seaside town of La Spezia, the administrative center of the province of the same name. From here it is convenient to make short trips to the surrounding sights, we recommend planning a stopover for 2-3 days.

Tip: if your hotel does not have a parking lot, you can leave your car in parking lots S1 (Via Fiume 143), S2 (Via XV Giugno 637) or S3 (Via della Pianta, 114). The second and third are free, the services of the first cost €1 per hour or €17 per day.

Dedicate the first day to a walk around the city, where Dante, Shelley and George Sand liked to visit (these places are called "poets' cove"). Include in the program the main sights of Spezia: the Castle of St. George (XIII century), which now houses an archaeological museum, the Amadeo Lia Museum in the building of a Franciscan monastery of the XVII century and Museo Navale La Spezia - one of the best naval museums in the world. And when you're tired, take a table at any pizzeria and order a Forinata pizza, a local delicacy made from pea flour that resembles a pancake.

Portovenere

The next day will be spent in the "paradise" town of Portovenere, named after the goddess of love, whose temple was once located here.

You can book a hotel in Portovenere with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Tip: to get here, use public transportation: take a bus (you can buy a ticket in advance for €2.5, from the driver for €5) or a boat (€8 one-way, €12 round trip). It's best to leave your car in La Spezia: the center of Portovenere is a pedestrian zone, and it's hard to find a parking space in the surrounding area in season.

Be sure to take a stroll along the central Via Capellini, accessed through the city gate, erected in 1113. This is where most of Portovenere's restaurants, bars and stores are located. We also recommend visiting St. Peter's Church, built in 1198 (one of the city's landmarks), and the Church of St. Lorenzo, and then climbing up to the terrace of Castel Doria (12th-14th century) for a view of the city.

If you have time, take the "Three Islands" excursion, where you will be shown the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto from the boat, as well as some interesting caves. The trip lasts about 40 minutes and costs €12.

Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre National Park (Five Lands), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, consists of five colorful fishing villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. They are connected to each other by rail and an extensive network of hiking trails - if you are confident in your abilities, choose a hike, you won't go wrong!

Tip: cars are forbidden in four villages and restricted in the fifth, so it is better to leave your car in La Spezia and take the train to Riomaggiore in 10 minutes (ticket costs €4).

The Cinque Terre Card, which can be purchased for €7.5 online or at train ticket offices, information centers and bus drivers in any village, will help you save money. It is valid for one day and includes free travel on buses, admission to some museums and internet access at all railway stations in the National Park.

The first village, Riomaggiore, is small. In addition to the picturesque surroundings you will find the ancient churches of John the Baptist (XIV century), the Virgin of Montenero (VIII century) and Santa Maria Assunta (XV-XVI century), as well as the castle of Riomaggiore.

From here, the famous "path of love" leads to Manarola, but the main part of it is closed until April 2019. You can take the train (2 minutes, ticket costs €4) or walk along the Beccarra road (about an hour).

Manarola's main value is the postcard view of the city from the waterfront. You should also visit the ruins of the bastion, the Gothic church of St. Lawrence (XIV century), the Shrine of the Virgin of Health, where the image of the Madonna is kept (XVIII century), and the village of Groppo, where delicious wine is made (you can get here by bus or on foot). And if you are in Manarola at Christmas time, you will see the world's largest creche, which is set up on December 8 and dismantled at the end of January.

Then you have to take the train again, as the section of the Azure Trail between Manarola and Corniglia is closed until 2018. After 2 minutes, after paying another €4, you will be at the train station of the next village. You can get to the center by bus or walk up the 382 stairs (if you plan to go to Vernazza by train, it is more convenient to see the stairs on the way back, when you have to go down them).

Corniglia is the smallest and highest (100 meters above sea level) village of Cinque Terre. Of interest are the church of St. Peter, built in 1334, and the ruins of a Genoese fortress.

You can continue your journey by train (3 minutes, €4) or on foot (70-100 minutes) along a section of the "Azure Trail" through the forest (from here you can see the villages of Corniglia and San Bernardino).

Vernazza is considered by most tourists to be the most beautiful of the five villages. It probably has the most attractions (as well as restaurants and stores). Visit the churches of St. Margaret of Antioch (XI-XII century) and St. Francis (XVII century), as well as the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace in San Bernardino, which overlooks the entire National Park (there are buses and a hiking trail to the village).

The last stretch can also be reached by train (3 minutes, €4) or on foot along the "Azure Path" (70-100 minutes).

Monterosso is the largest and oldest village in Cinque Terre. Here is the largest beach on the coast, as well as many interesting sights. We recommend to visit the Gothic church of St. Giovanni Battista (XIII-XIV century) and the Baroque chapel of Mortis et Orationis located next to it, the Capuchini Monastery (XVII century) and the temple of Soviore (first mentioned in the beginning of XIII century) - the oldest in Liguria. It is also worth seeing the Aurora Tower - one of the three surviving defense towers (originally there were 13 of them) and the sculpture "Neptune" on Feghina beach.

The train will take you back to La Spezia in 25 minutes, ticket costs €4.

Sestri Levante

The next destination is one of the most picturesque resorts in Liguria, which can be reached from La Spezia by car in about an hour.

You can book a hotel in Sestri Levante with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Sestri Levante is located on a peninsula and is washed on three sides by the Mediterranean Sea. Many kilometers of beaches, developed infrastructure, architectural masterpieces and beautiful nature - these are the reasons why this city is popular among Italians and visitors from other countries. Young people, however, it may seem boring - there are few nightclubs and discos here.

Tip: if you are late and there are no free hotel rooms left, look for apartments or rooms - there are much more of them. Plus, it's a great way to get to know the locals.

Take a stroll through the historic center, which dates back to the Middle Ages, visit the Museum of Art, which houses paintings by Rubens and Raphael Santi, check out the church of St. Nicola del Isola (XII century), and then head to the beach to bask in the sun and swim in the sea.

Portofino

Portofino is a favorite of wealthy holidaymakers (Madonna, Sharon Stone, Sylvester Stallone, Demi Moore, George Clooney and other celebrities), artists and filmmakers who choose its surroundings for location shoots. The first time you visit, you'll know the reason why - the beauty is indescribable. From Sestri Levante to Portofino will take you about an hour by car.

Tip: Portofino is a summer destination for the rich and famous, and prices rise dramatically for almost everything. If you decide to visit the town during this time and want to stay for a couple of days, you can stay in one of the nearby villages.

Portofino, where only 500 people live permanently, is located on the territory of the National Park Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino, which has been protected by the state since 1935. Here you can see a huge number of Mediterranean plants, flowers, birds and insects.

As you stroll through the city, you will certainly get the idea that time has stopped here. It is forbidden to build new buildings in the center, so it has not changed much over the past centuries. Check out the Church of St. George (XII century), where the relics of St. George, the patron saint of Portofino, are kept. The church stands on a hill above the town, so it's also one of the best vantage points in the area. An equally interesting attraction is the Castle of Braun (XVI century), also located on a hill. It is surrounded by a park, which is pleasant to walk in any weather.

If you decide to stay in Portofino for more than a day, we recommend a boat trip to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte (X-XI century), belonging to the Benedictine order. The relics of Saint Fruttuoso are kept here, and next to the abbey, at a depth of 17 meters, the world's largest underwater statue of Jesus - "Christ from the Abyss" - is installed.

If you get here in season (from the end of May to the end of September), be sure to swim at least once - local beaches regularly receive the "Blue Flag", confirming their exceptional cleanliness and safety.

Genoa

The main city of the Liguria region, one of the most important ports of Italy and Europe as a whole, a university and scientific center. It takes about an hour to get here by car from Portofino.

Tip: in the evening, don't walk around the Old Town or the harbor area - it's not safe.

Reviews of Genoa are so contrasting that it's worth staying a day to form your own opinion. Walk around the historic center, which has preserved the atmosphere of the XIV century, see the Cathedral of St. Lawrence (consecrated in 1181) and be sure to look at the old port. The most interesting museums are the National Gallery of Liguria (€6) and the Maritime Museum, which includes the largest Italian submarine, the Nazario Sauro (€12).

In Genoa you will constantly come across objects that are in one way or another connected with the name of Christopher Columbus. This city claims to be the birthplace of the famous navigator, but the theory is not yet proven. It is believed that in the monastery of Santo Stefano the future discoverer of America was baptized, and next to the monastery of Sant'Andrea was his house, of which only a restored section of the fence remains.

Albenga

The next point on our route is the "city of a hundred towers" Albenga, which is about an hour and a half away from Genoa by car.

Tip: there are many interesting villages around, easily accessible by car. You can see several in a day if you plan your route well in advance.

The historic center of Albenga is one of the best preserved in Liguria. The fortress wall with its towers, the narrow dark streets - if you take your mind off it, you will be transported back in time. We recommend a look at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, which has preserved frescoes, paintings and sculptures of XV-XVI centuries, and see the nearby Baptistery - the oldest building in the city (V century). Be sure to visit the Square of Lions, whose masonry dates back to the 13th century.

Albenga is a convenient point for short trips around the surrounding area. For example, to Laiguella or Finalborgo, which are among the most beautiful villages in Italy, the medieval settlement of Zucarello, Varigotti with its colorful fishing quarter or picturesque Noli.

Sanremo

The resort gained popularity in the XIX century, thanks to the fact that the Empress Maria Feodorovna, the mother of Nicholas II, followed by other representatives of the Russian nobility, liked to vacation here. The Corso Imperatrice Boulevard, decorated with palm trees donated by the Empress, was named in her honor.

You can book a hotel in Sanremo with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Tip: on your way from San Remo to Nice, stop by the "city of flowers" Ventimiglia, located 7 kilometers from the border. Its main attraction is the Genbury Botanical Garden, which houses almost 6,000 species of exotic plants from different countries.

The most famous sights are the ancient quarter of La Piña, which has preserved its medieval appearance, Palace Street, where the Cathedral of San Siro (XIII century), the villa of Alfred Nobel, the Orthodox Church of Christ the Savior (XX century), built with funds from the Russian community, and the casino, where gamblers have been challenging Lady Luck since 1905.

At the end of February and beginning of March, Sanremo hosts the famous pop song festival, where Eros Ramazotti started his career.

From the final point of the route it is convenient to get to Nice (an hour by train or car), from where there are connecting flights to Kyiv.

Ligurian delicacies. Be sure to try:

• Pesto sauce, the birthplace of which is considered Genoa, and pasta with it: Trofie alla pesto, Trofie di Recco or Trofie alla genovese;
• Minestrone alla genovese soup;
• pasta with nut sauce Salsa di noci;
• Tomaxelle veal meatballs;
• spinach, cheese and egg torta pasqualina;
• Ligurian pizza Sardenaira with tomatoes, onions and garlic;
• Focaccia flatbread;
• any fish and seafood dishes;
• local white wines.