Historic coastal towns and terraces tell the story of Liguria’s long history of settlement: the UNESCO Cultural Landscape between the Cinque Terre and Porto Venere documents how human life has developed over the past millennium. The UNESCO site in Liguria includes the Cinque Terre, Porto Venere and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. The coastal towns, terraces and archipelago each reveal different facets of this cultural landscape.
Coastal Towns and Historic Traces
In Porto Venere, Doria Castle dominates the coastal settlement. The archipelago also contains the remains of early monastic complexes. Together with the historic small towns and terraces, these places give the coast a history that extends far beyond individual buildings. Those interested in cultural heritage will encounter both striking structures and traces of earlier ways of life.
Hiking on Two Scales
Cinque Terre National Park features a network of more than 120 kilometers of trails and seven themed routes across the entire area. One circular route follows high-altitude paths with sea views, passing Jurassic rocks, old lemon groves and flowers. Alongside the scale of the trail network, this brings the specific landscape impressions along an individual route into focus.
For a longer hike through Liguria, there is the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri: the trekking route is 422 kilometers long and runs from Ventimiglia to Ceparana. It can be traveled on foot, on horseback or by bicycle. Red-and-white markings bearing the initials AV identify the entire route. The themed trails in the national park thus differ clearly from a regional route that crosses Liguria from end to end.
The national park also lists four trails that begin at Colle del Telegrafo and can be completed in their entirety by people with disabilities. Before your trip, check the information about equipment and arrangements. This information applies to the four trails mentioned, not to the entire trail network in general.
Nature Trails and Waterfalls
Liguria has one national park and nine regional nature parks. Between Mendatica and Montegrosso Pian Latte, the Cascate dell’Arroscia form a series of waterfalls, the highest of which is more than 20 meters tall. The Giardini Botanici Hanbury have a sensory trail about 461 meters long. Five tactile panels feature text in Italian and English, as well as Braille. Before visiting, find out about the trail’s facilities and conditions.
Genoese Culture and Marine Life
A variety of cultural discoveries await in Genoa. The Palazzi dei Rolli have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006. The Porto Antico is home to museums, the Acquario, the Bigo and the Nave Italia. At the Padiglione Cetacei, visitors can observe bottlenose dolphins both at the water’s surface and from underwater.
Whale-watching tours with biologists and experienced guides depart regularly from the Porto Antico. Departure times and schedules can vary, so check the dates in advance. The narrow-gauge Trenino di Casella offers another perspective on Genoa: it travels from the city center into the mountains behind the city in less than an hour. Since the schedule can vary, it is also worth checking the latest departure times.
Discover Regional Specialties
Liguria’s products can also be explored through their ingredients and origins. Genovese Basil D.O.P. is one of the region’s culinary products. Farinata bianca from Savona is made with wheat flour between Savona and the Albissole. The IGP production area for Focaccia di Recco includes Recco, Sori, Avegno and Camogli. Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà is made from Bosco, Albarola and Vermentino grapes, which are dried on special mats for at least two months. These examples show different aspects of regional cuisine, from a protected production area to a precisely described production process.
Tailor your search to your own priorities while keeping Liguria’s many different facets in view.
Discover more destinations: Imperia, Savona, Genoa, La Spezia, Abruzzo, Sardinia, Piedmont, Apulia.
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