Portofino wasn't in our initial plans, but as we ended up renting a car in Milan, we started researching where we could go.
One of the options was to drive to Monaco, France, however, due to the number of hours driving we chose to go to a beach in northern Italy.
After some research, we were torn between Cinque Terre and Portofino, and Portofino won.
We left Switzerland and took the road towards Milan, where we spent one night in the hotel that had been paid for and reserved.
The day started in Milan with that typical Italian sweet breakfast with Cornetto and jam, a shame it didn't have my favorite flavor, pistacchio, but doppio espresso was present.
We left as early as possible and followed the road towards Genoa, a port city that is much bigger than Portofino and that one day I want to visit too, but this time we wanted a smaller city to visit.
After a few hours of driving, we arrived at one of the most picturesque places I have ever seen. A port with colorful houses facing the sea, crystal clear water, and several boats and speedboats anchored creating a beautiful landscape.
We spent a few hours exploring the city, walking through the streets and shops, and discovered that Portofino has been a destination for many famous people, becoming an exclusive vacation spot for many cinema celebrities.
To maintain its charm, Portofino has strict building restrictions to preserve its appearance.
We strolled around the port with luxurious boats moored and managed to observe some fish and jellyfish in the crystal clear waters of Marina di Portofino...
Chiesa di San Giorgio
On the way, Chiesa di San Giorgio, a small church located in the city center with charming architecture and traditional Italian elements such as frescoes.
Its location in the city is a reference point and we had the opportunity to visit the interior, admire the sacred arts, and take a moment to be grateful.
But for me, what impressed me most was this facade, which I found very beautiful, and also the incredible view you can see from up there, one side the sea, the other the city...
The floor with a Compass Rose drawn on it is also a separate highlight.
The statue of the Madonna del Mare also stands out high above, protecting the church and the city.
Faro di Portofino
Then we started a trail to the Portofino Lighthouse or "Faro di Portofino" in Italian, which is on top of a hill and has an incredible panoramic view of the city and the sea.
The structure of the tower is painted white, a really cool contrast to the green and blue scenery around it.
The lighthouse has a long history of providing guidance to sailors in the region and in addition to its practical function, it is a cultural and historical reference point.
The surrounding trees and vegetation are also a highlight, asking for a break to contemplate and connect with this incredible nature. I noticed several people sitting, talking, taking photos, and picnicking there.
On the way back, the trail makes a fork that leads back to the center of Portofino and the other takes us to Spiaggia Dell'Olivetta.
We continued down the coast until we reached the beach to try to cool off a little from the heat.
Spiaggia Dell'Olivetta
We begin to descend towards the beach and on the way there are several exuberant houses full of trees and flowers and gardens, which open up to reveal incredible views of the sea.
I felt like stopping and seeing the view from each of the houses, with that thought of: maybe I'll drop everything and move here?!
Of course, I stopped several times to admire the views and take photos. The further down I went, the more I could hear the sea waves until when we arrived, I saw this little hidden beach, I fell in love with it.
There was a family getting ready to leave and we thought: Now the beach is ours!!
And so it was, we could enjoy the beach, dive, listen to music, and relax. My only fear was the jellyfish, as we had seen some in the port. Fortunately, none stuck to me. Ufa!
This contrast between the calm atmosphere of the beach and a city with the vibe of Portofino showed me that this beach really is a gift, hidden, almost as if it were a secret.
After a good swim and relaxing on the beach, it was difficult to leave Spiaggia.
But the time came to leave and we had to go back, and to come back, the trail was more difficult, this time going up... The good thing is that we were already used to and in shape with going up and down hills all over Italy.
Castelo Brown
Another very famous tourist spot, but which we were unable to visit, is Brown Castle, which is located next door, on top of a hill overlooking the city and the sea. We couldn't get in as it was closed for renovations.
The panoramic view from up there must be really cool. I already want to go back to visit this castle and see this view.
We took the opportunity to stroll around Portofino's main square a little more and then went back to the car to take a snack break.
Portofino is a small and very charming city that lives up to its name, It really was a good choice to visit Portofino and this beach.
It only gets better!
S. Margherita Ligure
An Italian jewel of a city, which mixes the charm of the past with modern sophistication.
Santa Margherita Ligure also serves as a beautiful base for exploring other towns in the region. Great location.
This place has become a popular spot for Italian high society and tourists from other parts of the world who choose this city to escape the heat of the European summer on their luxurious boats and speedboats.
Many tourists walk around the region looking for a seaside vacation full of shops, restaurants, and art galleries, not to mention the charm of the buildings.
The buildings have eclectic architecture with different styles, some more classic Italian, and others more modern.
As you walk along the promenade you will come across elegant and colorful buildings and around every corner a unique vision of architectural creativity.
Rapallo
Leaving Portofino towards our hotel and arriving in Rapallo, to be honest, we didn't have many expectations about this place, but it was really cool to visit.
A city that was initially just a stopping point, surprised us with its mix of an inland city and a coastal city, with all the charm of an Italian city Vera, ended up being an experience in immersing ourselves in Italian culture.
Our plan was to return to Milan and enjoy our stay there, but we found a good and cheap place and decided to stay there until the next day, take the opportunity to rest, and then head straight to what would be our last destination in Italy.
With the check-in done and the car stored, we went for a walk along the seaside promenade, had some gelato, and looked for somewhere to have dinner.
Highlight here is Piazza Martiri per la Libertà , another recommendation we had and went to check it out. A very charming square that is a great place to stroll in Rapallo.
There are several cafes and restaurants around the square with tables on the sidewalk, great for eating outdoors in a cool environment on hot nights.
In the center, this beautiful gazebo with a ceiling painted with a wonderful and colorful afresco, all lit up creating a beautiful central highlight in the square.
We met some local people and they were so receptive, wanting to know where we came from, what we were doing, and other conversations. Conversation in Italian, even though my proficiency in the language wasn't the best, but the communication flowed very well.
Being in a more touristy city where not everyone speaks English took me out of the comfort zone of switching to English and I had to put my Italian into practice.
People were always patient with me, teaching me, correcting words and accents, and recommending restaurants to us.
We decided to try one of the restaurants which was magnificent, starter accompanied by a great Primitivo wine and then a rare steak, fries, and dessert. Just seeing this photo makes me want to go back there to eat more and drink more of that wine.
And that's how Rapallo, which was just a place to pass through, became a place to have dinner, shower & sleep, and also learn more about local culture, which makes me reflect that often the best travel experiences happen when you go off plan. and let it flow.
Now let's go to sleep as there is now only one place left in our plan to visit, this journey through Italy is almost coming to an end.
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