Portofino

A girlfriend and I decided to be adventurous and drive from Monaco in the French Riviera, to the picturesque harbor resort town that is Portofino, a small gem on the Italian Riviera, also known as the Ligurian coast. To be fair, while there are gorgeous towns in the French Riviera to discover, we missed Italian food and wine- that itself is worth driving to another country, we thought. Welcome to Portofino, where some of the most affluent, from Italian industrialists and aristocrats to Europe’s wealthiest, drop anchor here.

“I drove 3 hours for this?” I exclaimed as I was surprised at how ridiculously tiny this town is. Upon arrival however, you can instantly sense the romantic, calming, and affluent aura of Portofino and its beautiful semi-circular seafront dotted with wooden fishing boats and of course, the yachts. Pastel houses and frescoed architecture are indeed picture-perfect. Even during peak season, you won’t be running into others while walking the cobbled piazzetta in front of the harbor- the place for dining, drinking, and gazing at the waterfront.

Part of the appeal is that Portofino is not an easy place to access. One must go the extra mile (more accurately 30 miles if flying into Genoa, the nearest airport which takes about an hour’s drive into Portofino). Many also travel here by yacht. Once an ancient Roman colony, Portofino has also been ruled by the French, English, Spanish, and Austrians, as well as 16th-century pirates. Don’t let this little town fool you, rich culture and history awaits.

STAY
Hotel Splendido

While Splendido has two separate hotels, the original Splendido is perched on a hillside overlooking the Portofino port and harbor. It’s a beautiful Italian villa with a majestic terrace, pool, and walkway down to paradise. Salita Baratta 16(00 39 0185 267 801)

EAT

La Terazza—in the luxurious outdoor patio overlooking Portofino’s bay. We came just in time for the new menu launch. Try delicious Ligurian dishes such as trofiette pasta cooked with nettles and pesto.

TO DO

Whoever said that there is not much to do in Portofino, is only semi-correct. You must visit the iconic yellow church of San Giorgio and enjoy the incredible artwork, stained glass art, and sculptures on the doors.

You must also visit Castello Brown, a 16th century castle/fort the castle where Elizabeth von Arnim wrote and set her best-selling novel The Enchanted April in the 1920s. Castello Brown is now primarily a museum with a fantastic view of the harbor and the Mediterranean Sea.

Drive or charter a vessel to the little Italian towns of Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure, and nearby San Fruttuoso, an even tinier village with a glorious abbey. The cliffs of Santa Margherita can make for quite a relaxing afternoon.
Other Things To Do in Portofino: Sunbathe, Relax, Discover.

Shop Italian Fashion houses such as Pucci, Prada, Gucci,and Ferragamo- to name a few.