Portovenere

Portovenere is a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the far end of the peninsula that extends south from the Cinque Terre at the western border of the Gulfo de Poëti. Its harbor is lined with brightly colored houses and narrow medieval streets lead up the hill to a castle. The main street of Portovenere, lined with shops, is entered through Portovenere's ancient city gate.

The main attraction however, is a picturesque church on the promontory, once the site of a temple to Venus (Venere in Italian) from which Portovenere gets its name. It is a favourite location for weddings and reminds us of the 'The name of the rose' by Umberto Eco.

Portovenere

With a telelens from Lerici, at the other side of the Gulfo di Poëti

Portovenere vanaf Lerici

The boat service to the 5 villages of the Cinque Terre starts from Portovenere. Facing the village lie a few smaller islands (Palmaria, Tino en Tinetto) that can also be reached by boat.

PiccoloBlu in Campiglia

If you go for a walk on the Sentiero N° 1 from Portovenere, be sure to plan a stop at the Piccoloblu in Campiglia. You can enjoy the ingredients of the typical Italian kitchen with focaccia, anchovy, pasta al forno and daily fresh cakes and pastry.

PicolloBlu has a few rooms but these are being renovated in 2011.

If you take the car to go to Campiglia, go there in the evening. The sunsets are really spectacular ! Campiglia is also reachable by bus from La Spezia.