the local area
Lerici and Portovenere:
The resort of Lerici could claim to be the nicest resort town between Portofino and Pisa. The beaches are excellent and excursion boats can take you anywhere from Le Cinque Terre to Forte Di Marmi in one direction and Portofino in the other - 2 noisy hours away by speed boat!
The castle stands impressively above the harbour and there are many nice restaurants which make a nice way to end the day if you extend your stay into the evening. The facilities and front at Lerici are being improved all the time and it is clearly an up and coming place.
The “twin” resort of Portovenere is across the Gulf of La Spezia, about 15 mins in a boat. Portovenere is similar to Lerici although not quite as pretty and is on the famous “Poets Coast” which inspired Shelley and Byron, among others. Apparently Lord Byron once swam from Portovenere to Lerici, which is no mean achievement!
Le Cinque Terre:
The five coastal villages and the dramatic terraced farmland that forms the coastal region between La Spezia and Sestri Levante is justifiably a World Heritage Site. You can visit individual villages, walk in between them on coastal paths and also travel to and among them by car, train or boat.
Monterosso, the largest of the five villages can be reached in about 1 hour by train from the station “Villafranca-Bagnone.” Boats departs from Lerici and Portovenere regularly throughout the day between April and October.
the coast
