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Italian
Riviera The
region’s mild weather, scenic views, and sophisticated, quaint
ambience has attracted artists, celebrities and wealthy tourists alike
since the early nineteenth century.
The coastline’s balmy weather is a result of the protection
provided by the Ligurian Apennine mountain range, a visible backdrop to
the area. The winding
coastline is accentuated with cliffs and landscaped with a variety of
olives, pines and citrus trees. The
combination of natural beauty, ancient structures and ambience makes the
Riviera a popular yacht charter destination. The
capital city of Genoa divides the Italian Riviera in half; the western Riviera
di Ponente or “setting sun,” and the eastern Riviera di
Levante, or “rising sun.” The
western Riviera extends from the French border to Genoa and is also
known as the Riviera di Fiori or Riviera of flowers.
The area has protected bays and wide sandy beaches.
Starting at the French border, Ventimiglia is the gateway to
Italy. Sailing east, you
will reach the seaside resort towns of Bordighera and San Remo, as well
as many others as you sail the coastline. Genoa
is Italy’s largest port and boasts the second largest aquarium in the
world. The bustling city
offers a nice contrast to the surrounding sea villages. The
Eastern Riviera is highlighted by the ports of Portofino, Santa
Margherita and Rapallo. The
tiny village of Portofino, which means “port of
the dolphins,” is the cosmopolitan center of the Italian
Riviera. Portofino enjoys a
spectacular setting on the point, where rocky cliffs overlook the
Mediterranean Sea. The town
features upscale shopping, including Gucci, Armani, and Hermes, as well
as fine restaurants and cafes. Enjoy
a short walk to the historic San Giorgio church. Santa
Margherita lies in between Portofino and Rapallo and features plenty of
palm trees and cafes. Get
an outdoor table and a bottle of Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, enjoy
the local entertainment, and observe the many passers-by.
Rapallo
lies eight miles down the coast from Portofino and is another splendid
seaside village. Rapallo is
famous for its beautiful and intricate lace, which has been made her
since the seventeenth century. Visit
the historical churches of San Gervasio e Protasio, erected in the
sixteenth century, and San Stefano, originally built prior to 1000 A.D.
and restored in the seventeenth century. The
region is famous for ceramics, lace, silver and gold filigree, marble,
velvet, olive wood, and macramé, and most towns have outdoor markets
where you can barter for your selections. |
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