Attractions - what to see and what to do. Regional nature park

Portofino (Italy) is a real paradise on Earth, located on the Italian coast, near Genoa. This is a famous fashionable resort on the shores of the Ligurian Sea, created for the richest and famous people peace.

From the history of the city

The history of this small town goes back to the distant 8th century AD. According to surviving documents, Portofino was founded by the Romans and was initially called the Port of the Dolphins. The name was not chosen by chance: in these places there were really a lot of these sea ​​creatures. The first mention of this locality date back to 986. Today it is a luxurious resort town. Its main income is tourism.

Location

Portofino (Italy) is located on the territory of a beautiful national park. It is one of the most protected regions of the northern coast Mediterranean Sea. The park is home to a myriad of different shrubs and flowers, and is home to many invertebrates, birds and animals. In addition, valuable monuments of ancient architecture are concentrated here. If you love nature, then you will enjoy walking along the alleys.

Portofino is comfortably located under a cape whose height is more than six hundred meters. We are sure that you will not be indifferent to the magnificent view of the rocks, under which the snow-white beaches stretch.

Climate

Many tourists are attracted by Portofino for its climate. Italy is generally famous for its amazingly comfortable natural conditions, which seem to be created for year-round recreation. Portofino has a mild climate with lots of sunshine and warm days per year. According to those lucky ones who have already visited these places, it is especially good here in winter and spring. There is very little precipitation, so vacationers come to this town throughout the year.

Beaches

Tourism industry experts say that the most best beaches countries are located in Portofino (Italy). Prices at this resort are quite high, so wealthy people come here. Despite the presence of rocks, the beaches here are very pleasant for relaxation. Fine and soft sand, perfect pure water make your holiday in Portofino unforgettable. The beach in this city has been awarded the Blue Flag, which indicates its impeccable cleanliness.

Created here for guests' relaxation ideal conditions. The rental of umbrellas, sun loungers, and various equipment for practicing your favorite water sports is widely developed. Numerous bars located on the beach make your stay even more comfortable.

Portofino, Italy: attractions

Tourism has become the main source of income in Portofino since the second half of the 20th century. From that time on, large-scale construction of magnificent mansions and villas began. The mild climate, stunning scenery, and extraordinary Ligurian cuisine have allowed the small town to become an ideal holiday destination for the rich and famous.

Beyond the ideal beach holiday, the residents of Portofino are also proud of the sights of their town. Tourists who are tired of lying on the beach can familiarize themselves with them.

Castello Brown

This is an ancient castle that was built in 1557. It used to be called Castello San Giorgio. It was created to protect Portofino from attacks from the sea. Today it is a place where various cultural events are held.

Monastery of La Cervara

This building dates back to 1361. Known for the fact that in different times were visiting here famous people: Pope Urban VI, Francesco Petrarch and others. The monastery tower became a prison for Francis I, King of France.

Christ statue

It was raised from the bottom of the sea in 1954 in one of the small bays near the town. On it, Jesus stretches out his open palms to the sky, as if calling people to peace.

This statue stands in the Bay of San Fruttuoso. You can only get here by sea, for example, by hiring a tiny taxi boat. The statue is called "Christ from the Abyss". It is installed at a depth of about fifteen meters, so it is impossible to see it completely. In calm, clear weather, when the sea is completely calm, the upper part of the statue is clearly visible.

Piazzetta

This is the main, but very small square of Portofino. Italy (reviews from tourists confirm this) is distinguished by noisy and lively squares. The Piazzetta is an exception in this sense. This is the abode of silence. All traffic is prohibited in the city center, so it is not noisy here. The square offers stunning views of the city's main architectural landmarks.

Benedictine monastery

Today, Splendido is located here, a luxury hotel for wealthy vacationers. It has been operating since 1901. Over the more than century-long history of the hotel, Brigitte Bardot, Clark Gable, Madonna, Humphrey Bogart and other movie stars and political figures have stayed here.

Temple of San Giorgio

Erected in the 12th century. Catholics all over the world revere him as Holy place, where the relics of St. George the Victorious are buried. This majestic temple stands on high mountain, from where you can see the city and the bay with snow-white yachts.

Portofino, Italy: tours, prices

A trip to Portofino is a guaranteed exciting holiday. The exquisite resort on the Ligurian coast has established itself as a place of entertainment and recreation for famous and rich people.

A mandatory tourist program includes visiting the main attractions of the city. In addition, you will be able to appreciate the exquisite local cuisine, go on sea excursions, find out Interesting Facts from the history of the city from a highly professional Russian-speaking guide.

In Moscow you can purchase a most interesting tour of the great cities of Northern Italy. Within 15 days you will visit different cities, including Portofino. The price of such a tour is 70,470 rubles.

You can go on a bus tour (15 days). Its price will be 60,324 rubles with accommodation in a double room. Perhaps tour operators in your city will offer you other interesting options trips.

The town of Portofino, despite its miniature size, is one of the most popular in Italy. There are only a little over five thousand indigenous people here. Their only occupation is serving tourists. The number of visitors is hundreds of times greater than the number of city residents. And at any time of the year. The tourist service is so excellent that Portofino has a reputation as a luxurious and glamorous resort.

Guy de Maupassant, Sigmund Freud, Ernest Hemingway found relaxation and inspiration here. The creative elite and political elite of our century consider a visit to Portofino almost obligatory: “What! Have you been to Portofino? Madonna celebrates her birthday here every year. Many Hollywood stars have in town own houses and villas. Locals with good-natured humor they say: “Every window here costs a million dollars.”

Actually, it was thanks to the “Dream Factory” that this part of the Italian Riviera gained such extraordinary popularity. In the 50s of the last century, the film “The Barefoot Countess” with Eva Gardner was filmed here. leading role. He not only added fame to the famous actress, but also showed with his own eyes the incredible beauty of these places. So a small fishing village lost its natural virginity, but gained fame and wealth - all according to the canons of Hollywood.

Faceted Diamond

Like a rare miniature jewel in the crown of the Mediterranean coast, Portofino is considered a unique attraction throughout Italy. Situated in a bay with a unique relief, the town is surrounded by an amphitheater coastline. Above it rises the picturesque hill of Monte Portofino. All this unprecedented beauty together is part of the unique National Park of Italy.

The park territory covers almost 1800 hectares of land. Their location is such that the hilly surroundings carefully protect this part of the coast from continental winds, sea storms, summer heat and winter cold. Truly a heavenly climate! Warm and sunny at any time of the year. Therefore, the flora and fauna here are represented by a riot of colors, a variety of shapes and species. The luxurious flowering gardens of Portofino are a special attraction even for Italy.

You can admire the surroundings endlessly. And tourists arriving in the city by boat or yacht will be greeted near the pier by an unusual rhinoceros suspended on metal ribbons. Unexpected, cute and a little ridiculous. As well as a whole array of pink Suriname sculptures and other unusual sculptures along the promenade.

In the evening, multi-colored, almost fairy-tale houses are illuminated with multicolored illumination. And the bay is always dotted with festively lit boats different types and sizes. Of particular interest to tourists is the Molo Umberto I marina, where the most fashionable and sophisticated yachts and boats moor. The Portofino Yacht Club is located nearby. Every May, the club organizes the sailing regatta Regata di Primavera - a magnificent, unforgettable spectacle in which many VIPs from Italy and the world take part. This event is a unique landmark of the city.

Breath of deep antiquity

Nice, modern, equipped with all the technical innovations for comfortable rest, Portofino still confidently retains the charm of antiquity. The town traces its history back to the 8th century BC. Then Roman sailors stumbled upon it. And they immediately appreciated the magnificent fortification capabilities of the territory. They founded a settlement here and built a fortress on a hill from which they had an excellent view of the surrounding area. So no one could get through unnoticed. Neither from sea nor from land. They called it beautifully - “Portus Delphini”, i.e. Port of Dolphins. It is clear that there have always been many of these cute animals in the cleanest surrounding waters.

IN different centuries The village was owned by the Romans, the Genoese, and the Florentines. In the 13th century, the territory was given to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso. Material evidence of that period remains in the form of interesting buildings of the Benedictine monastery and its many attractions.

The convenient but small harbor became too small for the Genoese merchant fleet in 1409, and Portofino was simply sold to the Florentine Republic. Over the course of several centuries, noble families of that time gave, lured, and won a glorious place from each other. Portofino eventually became part of the United Italy. This happened in 1861. The ordeal of the fishing village is over. A gradual blossoming began. Now only amateurs remember fishing. Or tourists, at whose request this type of entertainment is organized by local travel agencies.

The ancient fortresses were destroyed during the wars, but have now been successfully restored. And city guests enjoy climbing the observation decks Castello Brown Castle, from where a stunning, divine panorama of the city, harbor and sea opens. You can get here from the pier using a convenient elevator.

In Portofino, all the buildings seem magical. They are separated by tiny alleys and narrow streets. Even the central square of the city - the Piazzetta - is so miniature that it evokes emotion. Although there is always enough space for strolling tourists, the opening panorama only adds to the charm of the Piazzetta. As is the nearby small Basilica of San Martino. The paintings, sculptures, and icons decorating its interiors are real masterpieces of antiquity and artistic creativity.

Many tourists, especially diving enthusiasts, come to Portofino just to see this incredible attraction. In the bay adjacent to the town, at the bottom, at a depth of about 15 meters, there is a figure of Christ with raised hands on a pedestal. A fantastic sight awaits those who have the opportunity to scuba dive to the bottom. And during calm times, even from a boat you can see the outlines of a majestic figure. Everyone who sees her experiences a feeling of awe.

Why Portofino is interesting: where it is, what is worth seeing, what to buy and try, how to get to Portofino. Photos, reviews, Portofino on the map of Italy.

Portofino is a Mediterranean luxury resort in the Italian Riviera, in a cozy region. So small that even the ubiquitous Wikipedia only devotes a few lines to it. However, if you want to find favorite place rest of Italians and see with their own eyes world celebrities, Portofino with its colorful coastal hotels, olive groves, bays sheltered from all winds, lush vegetation, many dolphins and an amazing rainbow of the underwater world is the best place for this.

The easiest way to get to Portofino is through its small port

Portofino is located 40 kilometers from Genoa airport, in protected areas on the small peninsula of San Lorenzo della Costa (the dimensions of this island of land are 5 by 5 kilometers). The peninsula juts out into the Ligurian Sea, and on its western edge, on the shores of the Gulf of Tigullia, there is miniature Portofino.

It is interesting that the population of the town is about 500 people, and it is called the “port of dolphins” because of the huge number of these mammals, which have long chosen the local bay. The location of the resort gives it a heavenly climate: soft, truly Mediterranean.

History of Portofino

The first mention of Portofino dates back to 986, and at the beginning of the 13th century the town became part of the Genoese Republic. For a long period, Portofino harbor became a transit point for enterprising Genoese. At the beginning of the 15th century, the French king Charles VI transferred Portofino to the Florentine Republic. After briefly returning to the rule of Genoa, Portofino came into the possession of the Kingdom. And finally, at the end of the 19th century it became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

Since that time, the popularity of Portofino has been increasing; aristocratic families of Great Britain and other countries unexpectedly “tasted” it Northern Europe. The number of vacationers is growing rapidly. As a result, the tourism sector is replacing the fishing industry, which has been a source of income for the local population for centuries.

What to see in Portofino

In the center - on a hill - you can see the Church of St. Martin

The resort's main architectural attraction is Castello Brown, an imposing castle built hundreds of years ago on a high hill above Portofino. All surroundings are perfectly visible from it, which is why it was a military observation tower for a long time. In addition to the castle, the resort town has several churches, the most famous of which is the 800-year-old San Martino with a collection of valuable works of art: beautiful sculptures and ancient paintings.

But not for architectural sightseeing all year round tourists go to Portofino not for this at all. Such personalities as Guy de Maupassant, Hemingway, and Sigmund Freud loved Portofino with all their hearts. People spend holidays here and celebrate the birth of Hollywood stars, which is why the resort is a popular “corner of glamor.”

In addition, he is one of the few, for purity sea ​​water and beaches awarded honorary award. The flora and fauna here are simply amazing, since the town is located within a protected reserve - the Portofino National Park. The park was created almost 100 years ago and is a real treasure for those who value unity with nature: the rarest flora and fauna are collected here, and the views from the 600-meter cape are stunning.

There are several churches in Portofino, but the most famous is the 800-year-old San Martino with its collection of works of art: sculptures and paintings.

What to buy and try

The shopping and cuisine of the resort city is designed for fairly wealthy tourists: on the streets you can easily find original boutiques of the most famous fashion houses. Region Italian Riviera has long been famous for its pesto sauce - a cold seasoning made from Parmesan, basil, olive oil and pine nuts.

The unique seaside location of Portofino, as if cut off from the rest, has left a significant imprint on its cuisine: here, above all, ingredients such as walnuts, pine nuts and aromatic herbs are valued, giving dishes a piquant taste. It is worth trying the tomasello stuffed meat rolls, seafood salads, and fish delicacies.

How to get to Portofino

Fishing boats and luxury yachts coexist in Portofino

Paved to the town Railway, from international airport Genoa is only 40 km away. But most often, tourists use the services of numerous boats that deliver them to Portofino harbor from the regional capital or a neighboring resort. Or they make do with their own yachts.

Holidays in Portofino: conclusions

To feel what Portofino is, you need to see it. And breathe in what the Italians call “dolce vita” with your whole chest. Besides, there is no need to rush anywhere here. The only thing worth doing in this place is strolling along the narrow streets, bask on one of the cleanest beaches and listen to the sound of the surf.

You have the chance to organize a paradise holiday - even if it's an excursion to Portofino for 1 day!

Charming Portofino is a small resort town in Italy, located near the Liguria region. The city owes its name to the Romans, who called it Portus Delfini, since the bay was once a favorite habitat for many dolphins.

This fabulous town with a population of only about 500 people is located on the shores of a picturesque bay of the Ligurian Sea, belonging to National Park. The park has been under state protection since 1935, thanks to which ancient architectural monuments have been preserved on the territory of Portofino, as well as a considerable number Mediterranean plants and rare birds. Undersea world Portofino Bay also amazes with its brightness and diversity.

Since any construction is prohibited in Portofino, it looks like many seaside towns in Italy of the 19th century - bright colorful houses and villas surrounded by palms and olive trees, cobbled streets and squares, fishing boats in the port, to which today modern boats and yachts have been added .

Portofino is a fabulous town on the shores of the most picturesque bay of the Ligurian Sea

In the 10th century, the town belonged to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, in the 13th century it became part of the Republic of Genoa - 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 19th century, this fishing town became a popular destination among creative people those who prefer a calm, measured holiday - Maupassant often visited here, who considered Portofino “the kingdom of harmony and peace.” Modern show business stars and politicians also enjoy visiting Portofino, hiding here from the hustle and bustle in luxury hotels or in their own villas.

Climate and weather

Climate in Portofino typically Mediterranean – warm and soft. Rainfall is low even in winter time, and in summer it’s a real sunny paradise.

Average summer temperature+27 C, in July and August sometimes reaches +35 C; in winter the air temperature almost never drops below zero, as on the entire coast of Liguria. IN summer time The water in the bay warms up to +23 C.

What to see in Portofino

An interesting historical and architectural monument is the ancient Castle Castello Brown, located on a hill from which the most picturesque views of Portofino and the bay open.

The first fortress on the site of the castle, which repelled more than one attack, was built by the Romans and was made of wood. In the 15th century, wooden buildings were replaced by more durable stone ones. At the end of the 19th century, the castle was purchased by the English consul Montagu Brown as a villa for living.

Castello Brown was built in the 15th century

In 1961, the building was transferred to the municipality of Portofino, which organized an exhibition of works by local artists there. In the interior of the castle, many ancient bas-reliefs, painted ceilings, and carved wooden furniture have been preserved.

There is a well-kept garden with wonderful alleys around the castle, where luxurious weddings and parties are often held.

Worth a visit and Church of St. George- the patron saint of Portofino, whose relics, brought by the crusaders from the campaign to the Holy Land, are kept in the temple. The church was erected in 1154, reconstructed several times, and during the Second World War it was completely destroyed.

The temple acquired its current appearance in the 50s of the last century. The church of San Giorgio, located on the top of a hill, is reached by a wide road from the main town square.

The relics of the saint, brought here by the crusaders, are kept in the Church of St. George

Deciding what to see in Portofino, do not forget about the temple of San Martino. Built in the 12th century, today it is a kind of museum: it houses ancient sculptures made of wood and stone, as well as works by Italian painters.

Be sure to take a walk along the main street of the resort town - the magnificent Via Roma, along which there are boutiques of all the world's most famous brands: Gucci, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Hermes, Dolce Gabbana and many others.

Hotels

Being one of the most popular destinations, Portofino is perfectly prepared to receive guests of the most diverse caliber. And although 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 view accommodation options, photos, a map and guest reviews, as well as book a room for yourself, using the link below.

Excursions from Portofino

Tourists vacationing in Portofino are definitely recommended to visit the most ancient architectural landmark of the bay - Abbey of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte, built on the seashore back in the 10th century.

The monastery complex consists of a church, the abbey itself with a courtyard, and a watchtower built in the 15th century to protect against pirates. The abbey is named after Saint Fruttuoso, the patron saint of sailors who lived in the 3rd century; According to legend, the saint's followers once crashed in this bay.

You can get to San Fruttuoso on foot, overcoming steep mountain paths, or by sea - on a boat or boat.

The statue of Christ is installed under water at a depth of 17 meters

Excursions from Portofino– this is also one of the most unusual attractions – Christ statue, installed underwater in Fruttuoso Bay at a depth of 17 meters. Due to the fact that the water in the bay is incredibly clean and transparent, the statue can be seen not only from a boat, but also from the top of the hill on which the abbey is located.

Not far from the town there are five unique ancient villages, hidden on rugged cliffs overlooking 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.

Beaches of Portofino and surroundings

Despite the fact that Portofino is 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 to the beaches of the nearby town of Santa Margherita Ligure to swim and sunbathe.

If you have a lot of free time, which you have absolutely nowhere to spend, then you can be tempted by the offer of a travel agency and go on an excursion to Portofino.

I checked the box and went. But I won’t be tempted to visit an elite resort for the obscenely rich a second time.

How beautiful it sounds. Portofino...... Almost music.

The seaside resort of Portofino on the coast of the Ligurian Sea is famous for the fact that there are villas of Berlusconi, fashion designers Dolce & Gabbana, Ornella Muti, Andrea Bocelli and many others vacation there.

In the film "The Taming of the Shrew" the heroine of Ornella Muti was just bragging to Andreano Celentano that she had fun with friends in Portofino.

Andrei Bocelli recently released the entire album “My Love - Portofino” and gave a famous live concert there, the stage was located right on the pier.

We ended up in Portofino during a comprehensive excursion along the coast of the Ligurian Sea: Genoa, Rapallo and Portofino. A bus took us to Genoa and Rapallo. But Portofino can only be reached by sea by boat. There may be hiking trails through the Alps, but obviously not for tourists.

We sailed from Rapallo.

A return ticket to Portofino costs 16 Euros. The sail is about 20 minutes with one stop in the town of Santa Margherita.

In Portofino, I was also tempted by the opportunity to swim and visit the beaches where they bask." the mighty of the world“, as the guide promised us. Hmmm. I’ll come back to this “divorce”.

Actually, I wouldn’t mind visiting Portofino, since the excursion is complex. Where would I go from the "submarine"? But the thought of wasted time still haunts me. It would be better if they gave it more to Genoa or the same beaches in Rapallo.

So what is Portofino?

Imagine cool Rocky coast and a lonely bay.

The bay has a pier and a square along the perimeter of which there are restaurants, shops and residential buildings. The Alps begin immediately behind the square.

Moreover, the rocks are steep, so no more than one or two houses can be placed on the slopes. To the right and left of the square, lonely pedestrian paths go high into the mountains, along which houses and benches for tourists huddle.

Among the attractions are a couple of churches, one for each path.

Somewhere very high and far away there is some kind of remake in the style of a castle. That's all.

As soon as you buy yourself, for example, such a yacht, they will definitely invite you to visit.

Pay attention to the color of the water of the Ligurian Sea. It's incredibly blue. Deep clean dark Blue colour. It was even officially “legalized.” Those boats or yachts that belong to the Ligurian coast are required to paint their sides blue or at least have a blue stripe.

We wandered aimlessly around Portofino to pass the time. There is absolutely nothing to do there. We walked around the entire bay. We thought maybe we’d go out to some villa along the sea. Yeah, of course. The path is suddenly interrupted by a metal lattice door with a huge barn lock. Dead end. On the left is a rock, on the right is the sea. We are turning back.

Now about swimming. It turns out that in order to get to the small rocky beaches in the coves, you had to climb any of the paths up the mountain, then go down, then go up again, and then go down again. The one way journey takes about 20 minutes through the mountains.

If you follow the road to the left of the entrance to the bay, there is a rocky beach, which is famous for its spa effect. As we were presented with information, olive trees grow on the slopes towards the Ligurian Sea (they serve as a guide for finding the beach). The roots of olive trees reach the sea water and are released into it essential oils or something else.

Several tourists from our group decided to take a 20-minute run to the beach with a spa effect. Despite all my love for the sea, I refused this dubious pleasure.