Liguria, Italy: resorts, guest reviews

Which resorts in Liguria (Italy) are the most popular? This direction is very in demand with our tourists. Until recently, only tours went there. But lately, more and more travelers have gone on their own to the Flower Riviera to spend their holidays there. What to see in this beautiful land, except the capital - the charming Genoa? Which resort to choose? How to get there? Where to stay? What not to miss and what to try? We will try to answer all of these questions in our article.

What is the Flower Riviera

At all on hearing the Cote d'Azur, which translates as the Azure Coast. It stretched along the Marseilles Gulf of the Mediterranean Sea. It is often called simply the Riviera. Let's look at the map just to the east of it. Having overcome a small pass, and at the same time and now unimportant state border between France and Italy, we get to Liguria. This area of the horseshoe stretches from the Alps to Tuscany itself. From the north it is bordered by low, but picturesque mountains, and from the south by the Genoese Gulf of the Ligurian Sea. This location creates an excellent climate here. For the juicy greens, this coast is called the Flower Riviera. The administrative province of Liguria (Italy), with the capital of Genoa, stretches for 200 km. In turn, it is divided into two halves. To the west of Genoa and to the French border is the Riviera di Ponente, and to the east stretches to the Tuscany Riviera di Levante.

Climate

If you arrived in Italy through the airports of Milan or Turin, then you will be amazed at how unlike in its landscapes Liguria to its neighbors - Lombardy or Piedmont. The secret of difference is a range of mountains that securely close the Flower Riviera from the northern winds. And the sea in the south of Liguria refreshes the summer heat with a light breeze. The mountains quaint rocks cliff by the shore, creating countless number of secluded coves. There are both pebbly and sandy beaches. This circumstance plus luscious greens, healing air, filled with the smell of needles and flowers, created this place the glory of a tourist paradise. Even in the XIX century, the European nobility came here. And now Italy is the place of elite rest. Liguria, tours in which are becoming more popular with Russians, is by no means cheap, but here one can find "democratic" places - for example, Diano Marina.

How to get there

Genoa Airport is international and accepts both scheduled and charter flights. Railway transport in Italy is developed and quite cheap. Therefore, many travelers prefer to fly by themselves to the airports of Venice, Turin and Milan, to combine beach holidays in Liguria (Italy) with educational excursions, mountain hikes or relaxing pastime on the lakes of Garda, Como or Lake Maggiore. Along the whole coastline stretched as a railway branch, and a number of excellent highways. There is even a trolleybus service. You can rent a car, as well as use public transport services - buses and trains. You can travel from one resort to another and the sea. It will be more expensive and lasting, but magnificent landscapes are provided to you.

Italy, Liguria: hotels

The choice of the hotel depends only on what you expect from your holiday. You came exclusively to sunbathe and swim? Then choose one of the small resorts of the Flower Riviera: Arma di Taj, Lerici, Pietra Ligure, Portovenere, San Lorenzo al Mare ... There are many hotels with their own beach. Do you want chic? Then you in San Remo, where you can often see Hollywood stars and oil tycoons. Do you want to unite with nature? There is nothing better than to choose one of the five resorts of Cinque Terre. For those who set the main goal to get acquainted with the rich cultural heritage of Italy, city hotels and hostels of Genoa will suit. Many democratic hotels are in Diano Marina, Alassio, Bordighera and other resorts. Do not throw away the possibility of accommodation in the apartment. They are equipped with a kitchen, which saves on food. Green tourism is very popular in Italy. He means placing on a real peasant farm.

Beaches

As usual in places where the mountains descend directly to the sea, the coast here is mostly pebbly. Many consider this a minus, as well as the circumstance that the beaches here are narrow (not in the example of the south of Italy or the Adriatic), and in a season it is difficult to find a good place. But from Alassio to San Lorenzo al Mare stretched a wide strip of sand. We must immediately warn the independent travelers that beach holidays in Italy (Liguria is not an exception here) is associated with additional costs. The entrance to the coast is fenced and a fee is charged. This is very annoying for tourists who have visited Spain and France, where all the beaches are absolutely free. Separately need to fork out for the use of sun loungers and umbrellas. As a result, a tidy sum runs through the holiday. So if your goal is sun, air and water, choose a hotel with its own beach.

Kitchen

Even in the smallest resort of Liguria to have a snack in a pizzeria, to eat up to a dump in a trattoria or to spend a romantic evening in a restaurant is not a problem. In San Remo alone there are 175 catering establishments! Liguria (Italy) is famous primarily for fish cuisine. And this is not surprising: the sea has long fed the people here. Learning to win the fertile lands from the mountains, the Ligurians covered the slopes with green olive groves and vineyards. What should you try on the Flower Riviera? The king of the local cuisine is a rabbit stewed in the white wine of Vermentino. In the snack bars you will be served delicious cakes of sardinair with a filling of olives and sardines. Also, a typical Ligurian dish is a "green pie" - this color is acquired because of the greenery mixed with rice, cheese and boiled eggs. Such common Italian dishes like pharinata, focaccia and pesto, acquire their own special taste here. The cuisine in Liguria is so wonderful that even souvenirs from here are brought edible. This wine is white Cinque Terre and ruby Rossese, ink-cut cuttlefish macaroni, excellent olive oil, hard cheese and ham.

History

Liguria (Italy) is a tasty piece of land, therefore because of it wars have always been waged. The history of this region is filled with dramatic events. All the rulers, from the ancient Romans to the Sardinian kings, left interesting architectural monuments here. These are ancient amphitheatres, Renaissance palaces, Romanesque churches, and Gothic cathedrals. Especially many historical sights you will find in the provincial capital - Genoa. The city is located around the sea amphitheater. To go up it is possible by a pendant road or a funicular. The villas, built in the Art Nouveau style, are replaced below by the majestic white palaces of the High Renaissance, and at the very sea - by cheerful and noisy port districts.

Popular excursions

Proud white-stone Genoa - not the only thing that can conquer the hearts of travelers Liguria (Italy). Reviews of tourists contain tips to tear off the rancid body from the lounger and go on an excursion. The choice of offers is very wide. It can be a full day trip - for example, to Genoa with a visit to the Oceanarium, Nice (France), Milan, Monaco, Florence or the town of Noli, which received the title of "the most beautiful small city in Italy". The cost of such an excursion is about 60 euros per person. But you can decide on an independent outing to nearby towns. Savona has an art gallery with a rich collection. In Albeng, once the military fleet of the Roman Empire was based. In Allacio on the waterfront there is a "Roman Cafe", where on the wall the famous visitors - Winston Churchill, Sophia Loren, Ernest Hemingway, Louis Armstrong and Charlie Chaplin left their mural. A small Portovenere is generally listed as a UNESCO.

Characteristics

When you drive through the cities that are drowning in flowers, with which Liguria (Italy) is famous, it seems that they are subtly similar to each other. Nevertheless, each of them has its own character, its own face. Nowhere are there so many ancient churches as in Rapallo. Medieval color is preserved in Portofino, which is only twenty kilometers from Genoa. A little to the west of the provincial capital is Arenzano with wonderful pebble beaches. Celle-Ligure is famous for the abundance of water activities, Santa Margherita Ligure - the fact that it hosts the weekend of golden youth from Milan. Families with small children are better off choosing Pietre Ligure and Bordighera, and romantic natures - Sestri Levante and Lerici.