The Italian (or Ligurian Riviera) is the narrow coastal strip in northwestern Italy that runs over 200 miles from the border with France to the Gulf of La Spezia. It is a region popular with tourists because of its mild sunny weather, colorfully painted buildings, luxury villas and hotels, and charming coastal towns like Portofino, Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure, and those in Cinque Terre. It is also a renowned yachting and cruising ground with exclusive marinas and yacht clubs, top yachting regattas, and delightful anchorages.
The first settlements in this region date from the 8th century BC and the little towns that dot the coast were once fishing villages. Since the late 19th century, the European aristocracy felt attracted to the area, as well as famous artists, writers, and poets, like Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, and Ernest Hemingway, who seemed to have been inspired by the beauty of Liguria. If you stroll along the different seaside promenades busy with charming cafés, boutiques, and restaurants, and enjoy the scenic views of rocks bordering picturesque coves with lush vegetation and centuries old villas overlooking the sea, you will understand why many villages of the Italian Riviera are considered some of the most beautiful in Italy – “I Borghi più belli d’Italia”.