Liguria Holidays

Where is Liguria?
Liguria sits to the north-west of Italy towards the top of the ‘boot’. Bordering France, this spectacular region has a crescent-shaped coastline known as the Italian Riviera. Its capital is the picturesque port city of Genoa.

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Santa Margherita Ligure
The pretty seaside resort of Santa Margherita Ligure lies between Rapallo and Portofino and is just a ten-minute drive away so it’s ideal for a day trip. Less crowded than its popular neighbours, this classic resort offers a taste of traditional Italy with its elegant façades, historic churches, quaint shops and charming cafés, bars and gelaterie. Down by the harbour you’ll see numerous yachts as well as a small fishing fleet, while up in the hills you’ll come across historic villas and churches. There are a number of fantastic hiking trails and a hike to Portofino is a wonderful way to discover the natural beauty of the region.

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Genoa
Liguria’s capital is just 45 minutes from Rapallo and it’s well worth a visit. Renowned for its maritime history and rich culture, this port city is home to a UNESCO-listed historic centre, Renaissance and Baroque palaces, museums and galleries, along with one of Europe’s largest aquariums and modern shops and restaurants. It’s also a popular spot for whale and dolphin-watching cruises.

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Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terra’s rambling coastline connects five tiny fishing villages, where pastel-painted houses cling to cliffsides and hilly peaks lead you down to craggy coves, turquoise shallows and wave-worn harbours. Trekking is the thing here, with stunning sea-view trails that snake the shoreline between all five villages. From Rapallo, it takes about an hour and a half to reach the Cinque Terra’s northernmost town of Monterosso, where you can take some time out on the region’s only sandy beach. From here, you could travel down to Vernazza's little harbour, sip wine in the vineyards of Corniglia and Manarola, and watch the sun set over glowing Riomaggiore.

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Food & drink
Liguria is a master of simple and wholesome Italian food. Its signature speciality is pesto genovese, invented in the 16th Century to help sailors fend off scurvy. Now, this humble sauce is used in all sorts of local dishes, from hearty bowls of minestrone soup to trenette pasta (similar to linguine). If you’re a pasta lover, look out for pansotti – ravioli stuffed with wild Ligurian herbs and cheese, and drizzled with a creamy walnut sauce. A dish that also originated in Liguria is focaccia, best served fresh from the oven with toppings such as onion, rosemary or olives. You can tear into piping-hot slices of savoury focaccia for lunch or try sweet focaccia dolce for dessert. Seafood is a big part of the cuisine here. In Rapallo, a favourite fish dish is bagnun – a tomato-based soup made with anchovies. When it comes to pizza, the cheese-free sardenaira is an Italian Riviera staple.

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