This small region of Liguria in the Italian Riviera is so beautiful. With the sea in front and the mountains behind, walk near the water between colorful Santa Margherita and Portofino to admire the dramatic scenery of green hills and the magic of a blue sea.
Too good to be true.
In the Italian Riviera, Santa Margherita Ligure is on the Gulf of Tigullio, nestled on the Portofino Peninsula. The days revolved around the harbor and lido. However other places to see are the Basilica and the fortress. Lastly, Villa Durazzo, that belonged to a noble Italian family, is surrounded by a beautiful garden. On the way I admired in the hills the pastel colored mansions as warm as the sun.
About the scenic coastal walk from Santa Margherita to Portofino I read a while ago and have been thinking ever since. Is my favorite type of promenade, near the sea. Plus, is very easy to find the start in Piazza V.Veneto and then follow the 5.5km, and the weather that afternoon in June was lovely.
The path reminded me at first of another memorable walk I did in the south of France from St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat until the next town, Beaulieu-sur-mer, or when in Portugal, near the ocean. However this one was not as quiet, since this coastal path is next to the driveway, but even so, the views were spectacular.
Back to the Time Hotel, on a small alley next to the town main square, reminiscent of the twentieth century, on Via Luigi Bozzo, 3 – Santa Margherita Ligure.
Read also June in Portofino Camogli
Food & Italy. Liguria
I liked this region so much and ate very good. First, besides fresh fish, typical Ligurian dishes are focaccia genovese and farinata di ceci (a type of pancake made from chickpea flour). I tried the focaccia with salty anchovies, local specialty, and that definitely gave it an umami flavor.
Of course, a local type of pasta is the twisted trofie pasta al pesto. Most famous, authentic pesto sauce is only with basilico Genovese, extra-virgin Ligurian olive oil, Tuscan pine nuts, garlic, Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino cheese. Just as with focaccia, the Ligurian pesto is the original one.
What I enjoyed eating the most, if I am being honest with myself, were the sweets. Besides tasty gelato, a typical Ligurian cake is Castagnaccio, from chestnut floor. Canestrelli liguri are Ligurian flower-shaped delicious butter cookies. My favorite before coffee was “torta al limone”, made from lemons growing in the area.
In the old town, Antica Drogheria Seghesso is an ancient grocery store and a good place to buy edible souvenirs. Lastly, on my way to the train station, I passed by recommended pasticceria La Viennese for the local dessert with a pretty name, the Sanmargheritese.
How travel inspires creativity
Liguria is actually the 7th region I get to visit, after Veneto (Venice, Verona), Lazio (Rome), Lombardia (Milan), Puglia, Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna (Rimini, Bologna). So much more to discover, but also to see again. After all these visits I can say that there is so much diversity in Italy.
And while walking the path from Santa Margherita to Portofino, a few days before my birthday, I had a thought – that you should slow down in order to enjoy and truly get to know (and in my case, write about) the many parts of this diverse country.
The easiest way to reach S.Margherita Ligure is by train, and the closest airports are Genova and Pisa. At a convenient distance from Santa Margherita is Cinque Terre. I wrote these paragraphs on the regional train from S. Margherita Ligure-Portofino to Riomaggiore via Sestri Levanto. It is my next stop and I am looking forward. The story will follow soon.
Travel Journal 
Portofino e tutta la Liguria sono bellissime! Vorrei tornare lì!
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What a beautifully written account of Liguria! The walk from Santa Margherita to Portofino sounds incredible, with stunning views of the sea and mountains. I also loved your take on Ligurian cuisine, especially the focaccia and pesto! Your thoughts on slowing down to truly experience a place really resonate. Looking forward to your next stop!
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Thank you. I loved the region and writing the post to remember what I learned there and ate :). I enjoyed also the next destination in Liguria which was Cinque Terre and I am looking forward to return in Italy
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: Cinque Terre must have been just as magical—I can’t wait to read about it! There’s something so special about how Italy invites you to slow down and soak everything in, one meal and view at a time. I totally get the urge to return—there’s always more to explore and fall in love with. Looking forward to your next story! 🇮🇹
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