Portofino, the Riviera's Polished Harbour
Portofino is a small fishing village and resort on the Riviera di Levante in Liguria, north-western Italy, known for a perfectly framed harbour of pastel houses, wooden fishing boats and yachts. The name is traditionally traced to the Roman Portus Delphini, the Port of the Dolphin. Tiny in size, it has long drawn artists, writers and film stars, and its waterfront piazzetta, lined with cafes and restaurants, is one of the most photographed squares on the Italian coast. The hills behind are green with pine, olive and Mediterranean scrub.
A short climb leads to Castello Brown, a fortress overlooking the harbour that has been turned into a museum and event space with sweeping views, and further along the path, the Church of San Giorgio and the lighthouse at Punta Portofino offer quiet viewpoints over the open sea. The Portofino Natural Park and its marine protected area surround the village, with trails through woodland and cliff paths that make the headland a favourite for walkers as well as those who come for the harbour.
San Fruttuoso, Paraggi and Boat Days
Boats open up the coast. Ferries and water taxis link Portofino with Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo and Camogli, and the medieval Abbey of San Fruttuoso, tucked into a cove reachable by boat or on foot along the headland, is one of the Riviera's most memorable stops. Paraggi, just along the coast, has a small, popular beach with clear water, and the bays around the headland suit snorkelling and boat trips. Many visitors arrange a half day on the water between lunch stops.
The table is Ligurian: pesto, trofie, fresh fish, focaccia and the local white Vermentino. Santa Margherita Ligure, a short distance away, is a livelier seaside town with a palm-lined promenade and a good range of restaurants, and it makes a natural base for the headland. A hotel group with a Portofino property has an instantly recognisable setting to present, from harbour-front suites to hillside villas above the sea.
Read the full Portofino guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitPortofino.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.