Liguria

Notable towns in this region include

• Genoa (Genova)
• Imperia
• La Spezia
• Savona

Liguria, one of Italy's smallest regions, is a thin coastal strip nestled between the mountains and the Mediterranean. It is easily divided into two areas; the Riviera Ponente to the west and the Riviera Levante to the east. Liguria's splendid capital and largest port, Genoa, sits neatly in the centre.

Recommended Reading Enchanted Liguria: The Glorious Lifestyle Art and Food of the Italian Riviera

Most people come to Liguria for its seashore, which is a virtually uninterrupted string of resorts that have been a mecca for Italian tourists for a hundred years. But that is not all this region has to offer; terraced hillsides that produce an delicately flavoured olive oil, lush forests of lemon, almonds and pines trees and one of the most spectacular coastal roads in the world.

Places to see:

• Genoa - Birthplace of Christopher Columbus and capital of the region
• Balzi Rossi - Caves of the Pre-Iron Age Ligurians
• Villa Hanbury - Gardens of Sir Thomas Hanbury
• Toirano - Grotte di Toirano
• Cervo - Pretty sea front village
• Bussana Vecchia - Ghost town abandoned after the earthquake of 1887
• Camogli
• Cinque Terre
• San Remo
• The Coastal Road - A spectacular road which runs the length of Liguria through tunnel after tunnel with the glorious coastline at your side.