Holiday in Liguria

What makes Liguria special as a destination?

Liguria is Italy's narrow coastal strip of superlatives — wedged between the Ligurian Alps and the deep blue Mediterranean, where pastel-colored villages cling to steep cliffs, lemon trees scent terraced gardens, and the mildest winters in Northern Italy prevail. The Cinque Terre are the region's landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site: Five colorful fishing villages — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore — nestle against steep coasts, connected by hiking trails with breathtaking views and centuries-old vineyard terraces that shape the landscape. The Sentiero Azzurro leads as a coastal path from village to village, while the higher Sentiero Rosso offers even more spectacular panoramas. Portofino, the world's most famous fishing village, is a gem on a sheltered bay: Luxury yachts, designer boutiques, and Castello Brown above the Piazzetta create a backdrop like something out of a Fellini film. Genoa, the underrated capital of Liguria, surprises with the largest historical old town center in Europe, the magnificent Rolli Palaces (UNESCO World Heritage) and one of the continent's most significant aquariums. The Riviera di Ponente in the west — also known as the Flower Riviera — stretches from Savona to the French border and is famous for its flower cultivation, mild temperatures, and the wide sandy beaches of Alassio and Finale Ligure. Culinary-wise, Liguria has gifted the world Pesto alla Genovese: fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmigiano, Pecorino, and Ligurian olive oil, prepared in a mortar — a dish that tastes incomparably different in its homeland than anywhere else.