Top Things to do in Italian Riviera
What to do and see in Italian Riviera, Italy: The Best Places and Tips
Liguria, or the Italian Riviera, boasts a bounty of beaches and resort towns, such as tiny but tony Portofino and stylish Rapallo. Hiking trails lead from Portofino to the villages of Cinque Terre. The Riviera of the Setting Sun runs north from Genoa to the French border. Connected by an extensive rail network, most towns make easy daytrips from one another. Genoa is the region's principal city and is home to attractions from its famous Cathedral and the Palazzo Reale to an excellent aquarium.
Restaurants in Italian Riviera
1. Acquario di Genova
Overall Ratings
4 based on 13 reviews
The Acquario di Genova was built on the occasion of the Expo ’92, a celebration of the fifth centenary of the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus, with the intention of restructuring and enhancing an area full of history and traditions, located in the heart of Genoa’s historic centre, the Porto Antico (the old port). It’s the biggest aquarium in Europe.
Reviewed By Kwassie - Stellenbosch, South Africa
We found the whole experience rather average for the price of the ticket. 3 of the Exhibitions we specifically went to see were closed, although that wasn’t mentioned where you bought the tickets.
Overall I think we are just so spoiled by the quality and diversity of wildlife that we have in SA that it is not worth spending money on it in Europe.
2. Portovenere
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By LadyDarcy - Knoxville, Tennessee
I liked Portovenere better than the CinqueTerra towns! It was beautiful, with lovely views of the Med Sea, and little areas to walk and churches to see and lovely places to eat! Portovenere can be used as a jumping-off spot for seeing CT. From here, we rented a boat (and driver) and drove by all of CT, stopping at 3 of the towns. Still, lunch by the sea in Portovenere cannot be beat!
3. Basilica di Santa Maria di Castello
Overall Ratings
5 based on 359 reviews
Reviewed By Mike K - Phoenix, Arizona
This papally designated basilica is near the port and the walls of the ancient city. It is easy to imagine both the wealthy sponsors and the at risk sailors praying to Mary for protection of their maritime adventures. Gorgeous murals. Must see
4. Palazzi dei Rolli
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 863 reviews
The Palazzi dei Rolli is a group of palaces in Genoa, northern Italy. On July 13, 2006, forty-two of eighty subscribers to 'Palazzi dei Rolli' or rolls' palaces were entered by the special committee UNESCO meeting in Vilnius (Lithuania) between the members. About 10 million euro was spent on their restoration in the 1990s with the use of public and private capital. On January 20, 2007, a plaque was placed by UNESCO at the beginning of Via Garibaldi on the grounds that it inserts the description of Palazzi dei Rolli within the world heritage listing: The largest homes, various in shape and distribution, that were chosen at random in the lists (rolli) to host visits of state. The buildings, often built on sloping land, formed of a stepped atrium - courtyard - staircase - garden and rich interior decorations, express a singular social and economic identity and commencement of modern age urban architecture in Europe.
Reviewed By Anfrist - Bucharest
There are a lot of UNESCO heritage palazzos in Genova, but Tursini and Bianco and Rosso were turned into museums with single ticket for access. They are wonderful, both considering their appearance and the art displayed inside. The fact that first 2 museums allows access outside from time to time is a big plus.
5. Dialogo nel Buio
Overall Ratings
5 based on 642 reviews
In Dialogue in the Dark exhibition, visitors are led by blind guides through a specially constructed and completely darkened space. Conveying the characteristics of a familiar environment, a daily routine turns into a new experience. A reversal of roles is created as sighted people are torn from the familiar, losing the sense they rely on most - their sight. Blind people guide them, providing security while transmitting a world without pictures. The visually impaired guides open a visitors' eyes in the dark, showing that a world without sight is not poorer, just different.
Reviewed By Sue_Yin - Singapore, Singapore
The only reason I would rate this a 4 is because it has really nothing related with the Genoa. But it is worth a visit if you have the time.
I don't speak Italian and on the day of the visit there was no English guide. My husband who has moderate capabilities in Italian was my translator.
At the start it was extremely disorienting and since I didn't understand all the assurance of the guide, I had to mentally calm myself down. Once I relaxed a bit it was quite enjoyable and it exposed us to a small slice of life that a blind person goes through.
Our guide was awesome and really controlled the experience.
We had very young kids in the group aged 5/6 I think and though they cried at the start, the guide really knew what to say to comfort them. In the end, they enjoyed it and was shouting away answers.
Tips - Take a short walk around the aquarium for a beautiful view of the city from the pier.
6. Finalborgo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 842 reviews
Reviewed By ulysses4 - Westfield, Massachusetts
This old walled sector of the city is worth a visit. It can be very popular with tourists.. The medieval buildings and some attractive shops and restaurants reflect a neighborhood that is trying to earn a living from its ambiance and history. You can walk there or take a small bus from the vicinity of the city treain station.
7. Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 618 reviews
The Promontory of Portofino, the most northern protected coastal area of the western Mediterranean, shows scenery and landscapes amongst the most famous in the world. Formed by giant conglomerate deposits overlying limestone banks, mainly of marl, it has geomorphologic and microclimatic characteristics which provide, in a limited territory, an extremely varied environment. Within short distances, we can find the cool Forests of the northern mountainside and nearby the sunny cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean world, from the civilization of chestnut to the olive one, from the peasant traditions to the sea and the fishing traditional industry. The Park of Portofino has been a protected area since 1935 and it hosts one of the largest concentrations of flora of the Mediterranean, a large variety of birds and invertebrates as well as important historical and architectural treasures such as the abbeys of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte and San Gerolamo della Cervara. A network of over 80 km of trails allows walking and hiking excursions of various lengths and difficulty, with the opportunity to enjoy the peculiarities of the whole area in the best way possible.
Reviewed By TravelerMikePlano - Plano, Texas
Portofino looks like a postcard. There are a lot of tourists, and cruise lines like to drop their share there, but that's what to expect when you go to a top tourist destination. Good restaurants and hotels. Great sight with places to walk to and historic sights that the glitterati favor.
8. Camogli - San Rocco - Punta Chiappa Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 107 reviews
Reviewed By HelenEA811 - London, United Kingdom
We accidentally stumbled across this hike one afternoon and I'm so glad we did. Straight out of Camogli, it's a gentle climb to the beautiful San Rocco church, then a lovely coastal walk the rest of the way to Punta Chiappa with beautiful views. We then caught the boat back to Camogli from Porto Piddochio.
9. Hike the Punta Manara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 287 reviews
10. San Pietro Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 684 reviews
Reviewed By calota - california
I believe this church dates back to the 1200's. The walk up to the church is very interesting, with the Grotta Byron on the right as you approach the church. The inside of the church was simple, and the views from the top were incredible. We took the ferry to Porto Venere, and the view of the church from the water was impressive.
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