Charming Portofino is a small resort town in Italy, located near Genoa in the Liguria region. The city owes its name to the Romans, who named it Portus Dolphini, since the bay was once the favorite habitat of many dolphins.
This fabulous town with a population of about 500 people is located on the shores of the picturesque bay of the Ligurian Sea, related to the National Park. The park has been under state protection since 1935, thanks to which ancient monuments of architecture, as well as a considerable number of Mediterranean plants and rare birds, have been preserved on the territory of Portofino. The underwater world in Portofino Bay is also striking in its brightness and diversity.
Since any construction in Portofino is forbidden, it looks like many other coastal cities of Italy of the 19th century - bright colorful houses and villas surrounded by palm trees and olive trees, cobbled streets and squares, fishing boats in the port, to which modern boats and yachts have been added today .
Portofino - a fabulous town on the shores of the picturesque bay of the Ligurian Sea
In the X century, the town belonged to the abbey of San Fruttuoso, in the XIII century it became part of the Genoese republic - for some time the merchant fleet of Genoa was based here, then the Florentines ruled here, and only in 1861 the city became part of Italy.
In the XIX century, this fishing town became a popular place among creative people who prefer a calm, measured rest - there was often Maupassant, who considered Portofino "the kingdom of harmony and peace." Modern stars of show business and politics also visit Portofino with pleasure, hiding here from the hustle and bustle in luxury hotels or in their own villas.
Climate and weather
Climate Portofino typically Mediterranean - warm and soft. The amount of precipitation is small even in winter, and even in summer there is a real sunny paradise.
The average summer temperature is +27 C, in July and August it sometimes reaches +35 C, in winter the air temperature almost never drops below zero, as on the entire coast of Liguria. In summer, the water in the bay warms up to +23 C.
What to see in Portofino
An interesting historical and architectural monument is an ancient Castello Brown Castle, located on a hill with spectacular views of Portofino and the bay.
The first fortress on the castle site, which repelled more than one attack, was built by the Romans and was made of wood. In the XV century, wooden buildings were replaced by more solid stone ones. At the end of the 19th century, the castle, as a villa for living, was acquired by the English consul Montague Brown.
Castello Brown Castle erected in the 15th century
In 1961, the building was transferred to the municipality of Portofino, who organized an exhibition of works by local artists there. The interior of the castle has preserved many ancient bas-reliefs, painted ceilings, carved wooden furniture.
Around the castle is a well-kept garden with wonderful alleys, in which luxurious weddings and parties are often held.
Worth a visit and church of st george - Patron of Portofino, whose relics brought by the crusaders from a campaign in the Holy Land are stored in the temple. The church was erected in 1154, was reconstructed several times, and during the Second World War it was completely destroyed.
The temple acquired its present form in the 50s of the last century. On the top of the hill, the church of San Giorgio is led by a wide road from the main town square.
The relics of the saint brought here by the crusaders are stored in the church of St. George
Deciding what to see in Portofino, do not forget about the temple of San Martino. Built in the XII century, today it is a kind of museum: ancient sculptures made of wood and stone, as well as works of Italian painters, are stored here.
Be sure to stroll along the main street of the resort town - the magnificent Via Roma, along which boutiques of all the most famous world brands are located: Gucci, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Hermes, Dolce Gabbana and many others.
Hotels
Being one of the most popular places on the Italian Riviera, Portofino is well prepared to receive guests of the most diverse "caliber". And although the hotels in Portofino itself cannot boast of either quantity or variety, in the immediate vicinity of the town their choice is quite wide.
You can see the accommodation options, photos, map and guest reviews, as well as book a room for yourself, using the link below.
Excursions from Portofino
Tourists vacationing in Portofino are certainly recommended to visit the most ancient architectural landmark of the bay - Abbey of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte, built on the seashore in the X century.
The monastery complex consists of a church, the abbey itself with a courtyard, as well as a watch tower built in the 15th century to protect against pirates. The abbey is named after St. Fruttuoso - the patron saint of sailors who lived in the III century; according to legend, the followers of the saint once crashed in this bay.
You can get to San Fruttuoso on foot, breaking steep mountain trails, or by sea - by boat or boat.
The statue of Christ is set under water at a depth of 17 meters
Excursions from Portofino - this is one of the most unusual sights of Liguria - statue of christinstalled under water in Fruttuoso Bay at a 17-meter depth. Due to the fact that the water in the bay is incredibly clear and transparent, the statue can be seen not only from the boat, but also from the top of the hill on which the abbey is located.
Near the town there are five unique ancient villages hidden on the harsh cliffs that rise above the sea: Vernazza, Monterosso, Riomaggiore, Corniglia and Manarola, which can only be reached by sea.
If desired, from Portofino you can go on excursions to Genoa or San Remo.
The beaches of Portofino and the surrounding area
Despite the fact that Portofino is a seaside resort, there are practically no beaches in the town itself. Of course, there are small rocky beaches, but most of them belong to hotels, so vacationers go swimming and sunbathing on the beaches of the nearby town of Santa Margherita Ligure.
