Sea Italy information – Northitaly Villas
Area tourist tips & advice – Vacation villa rentals in Liguria!
Italy, as a peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea, has one of the longest coast lines of Southern Europe, dotted with beautiful beaches for the perfect beach holiday!
We’ll present you here the Liguria region where we can propose you several exclusive and luxury villa rentals for your dream vacation!
TOWNS & SIGHT SEEING:
Extending between Tuscany and France, described here below from East to West, the Ligurian Riviera has persuaded many tourists from the beaches, the seaside villages with its colourfully painted homes to the hills and mountains around.
Starting with Portovenere, this village truly is a gem overlooking the Gulf of Poets, accessible by a relaxing boat trip from the beautiful Lerici. The city of La Spezia has the main port of the gulf and is a convenient place to stay between Tuscany and the Cinque Terre.
Probably the most known tourist area of Liguria, and rightfully so, the Cinque Terre (Five Lands) is a coastal area of breath-taking beauty. It comprises five villages (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Over centuries, people have built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the Ligurian Sea. It’s an almost car-free area with walking trails between the villages and through the terraced vineyards. A boat trip is a great way to see both the villages and the dramatic coastline. Levanto is a nice seaside villages with good hotels and restaurants, also known as the doorway to the Cinque Terre, only a short train ride away.
Don’t forget the visit the town of Sestri Levante and the picturesque beach on the Bay of Silence (Baia del Silenzio). The lively town of Rapallo is the main starting point to explore the ‘Paradise’ Gulf of Tigullio, from the pretty and posh village of Santa Margherita Ligure to the cutest harbour with expensive yachts of Portofino, all the way to the abby of San Fruttuoso reachable only by sea or on foot.
Genoa is the economic centre and capital city of Liguria; it certainly is an underrated Italian city and definitely worth a visit. The charming old town and its small alleys are packed with unique restaurants, and is leading out into the seaside promenade with a wonderful aquarium. There are many interesting museums in impressive palaces to choose from. The city is built upon a hill flank so don’t forget your walking boots and head to the Castello hill for spectacular views over the city!
Going west of Genova you’ll cross the cities of Savona and Imperia to San Remo near the French border. This western side of Liguria is less known to international travellers and is more a local Italian destination especially for the people from the cities of Turin and Milan heading to the beach.
There are several nice beach resorts like the pretty village of Noli, the beautiful coloured houses right on the beach of Varigotti, the popular Finale Ligure, Alassio with a lively night scene, the family friendly Diano Marina with a nice beach extending into the shallow waters of the sea – ideal for small kids.
The elegant town of San Remo is a famous place to all Italians because of its annual music festival in the Ariston Theatre and the Milan – San Remo cycling classic. It also hosts one of the few casinos on Italian soil in a beautiful Art Nouveau building.
Finally just at the border with France there is the town of Ventimiglia, with an ancient medieval city centre, perched on a hill overlooking the new town. Especially popular for its weekly street market along the seafront when visitors from France cross the border to do their shopping.
NATURE & SPORTS:
The nature around Liguria is truly beautiful and worthwhile in every season from the shores of the sea to the hills around, up to the higher Apennines mountains. Beaches, water sports, boating, diving are all within easy reach. Enjoy the many scenic walking itineraries, mountain bike trails and natural reserves, and even skiing in winter!
FOOD & GASTRONOMY:
The Ligurian cuisine has the scents of the sea and of basil, basil that combined with oil, garlic, cheese and pine nuts becomes pesto, one of its most famous specialties. A key ingredient of the local cuisine is fish but also vegetables, without neglecting traditional focaccia and farinata: focaccia genovese, brushed with extra-virgin olive oil, water and salt, or focaccia with olives, or with onions, or focaccia di Recco, stuffed with cheese. Another great classic of Liguria is farinata made with chickpea flour, or the cartoccio di fritto misto, a tasty variety of fried fish!
The Ligurian Riviera area and the valleys in its hinterland are renowned in Italy and abroad for the cheeses produced from animals grazing on mountain pastures. Toma and Caciotta, fresh Robiola, Malga Pecorino and San Ste’ cheese, even better combined with the high quality honey produced in the area. The local cured meats (ham from Castelnuovo Magra, coppa, Mostardella and many other types of salami) are delicious. Discover the various wines from the full-bodied reds like Rossese di Dolceacqua Superiore Doc, Rosso Colli di Levanto DOC and Golfo del Tigullio DOC; as for white wines Vermentino di Luni and Moscato di Taggia.
You’ll find typical excellent trattorias in every little village and even several exquisite Michelin starred restaurants around. Wine tours and tasting experiences can be organized, private chefs and cooking classes can come to your home!
So what a wonderful opportunity to discover the Liguria destination while relaxing in one of our exclusive rental seaside villas!
Search directly for the available villas in the search bar above, or follow this link to see all of our villas at the sea in Liguria: Luxury vacation rental villas at the sea in Liguria.
