At West of Sestri Levante

Genova - The Ancient Harbour
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Genova - La Città dei Bambini
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Genova - The Aquarium

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Portofino

Portofino is a small  fishing village, located 10 miles east of Sestri Levante on the Italian Riviera. The town crowded round its small harbor is considered to be among the most beautiful Mediterranean ports and it is a popular yachting destination. According to Pliny the Elder, Portofino was founded by the Romans and named "Portus Delphini", or "Port of the Dolphin", because of the large number of dolphins that inhabited the Tigullian Gulf. You can arrive there with daily boat service from Sestri Levante harbour or by 15 minutes train trip.

Once in Portofino walking might be your best option. The town is not large and most restaurants and beaches are a short walk from the harbor. Alternatively, mopeds seem to be a popular choice for getting about, especially for those people visiting several of the small regional towns like Paraggi, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo or San Fruttuoso on their own schedule. Once again, should you be fortunate enough to have a boat at your disposal, that would be another convenient way to move around the area. There are rentals available in the harbor.

Truly, the most impressive thing about Portofino is the lifestyle, so running off and "seeing the sights" probably won't be your number one priority when you plan your trip. There are some notable attractions that might be able to lure you from the beaches, but the view from the harbor or any of the surrounding beaches is unforgettable and one could spend the entire day marveling at it. Visiting Portofino is a sensual experience, and this being the case you should bring some of those sensual items back with you. There are a couple of small shops in the harbor area offering regional foods and wines for reasonable prices, and so providing a perfect way to extend your time there even after you've left. If you're more into high fashion, there are several posh boutiques from some of the world's most famous designers, not surprisingly with some Italian luminaries on prominent display. If shopping is on your agenda you'll happily be able to peruse the latest designs from Armani, Gucci, Pucci, Ferragamo and Zegna. If you aren't looking for runway attire, there are also several boutiques with unique items, including one with lovely Murano glass jewelry.

Castello Brown is a 16th century castle/fort, once used for the area's defense, but now primarily a museum with a fantastic view of the harbor and the Mediterranean Sea. Also, you can visit San Fruttuoso Bay and his Christ of the Abyss. You can reach San Fruttuso only by sea or one hour hiking trail. You can choose a public boat at reasonable price. If the money is not a problem, try to rent a small taxi boat. It's a very unforgettable experience. Statue of "Christ of the Abyss", put underwater on 1954, is in the small bay at a depth of 17 meters. This statue was placed to protect fishermen and scuba divers. Sculpted by Guido Galletti, it represents a benedictory Christ who is looking up towards the sky with open arms as a sign of peace.

The quaint beach town Paraggi is a short walk on the pathway  from Portofino and it seems to cater to a younger and more family-oriented crowd. The ferry service from Portofino harbor provides frequent service to Santa Margherita Ligure, which also boasts a beautiful public beach. In that slightly larger town you'll also find more shopping and with a little walk off of the main road you will find several shops specializing in local foods and libations, and lining the streets will be antique dealers with all kinds of aged treasures.