Discovering the Portofino promontory…

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Hiking

Parco Portofino Trekking 004The Portofino promontory is part of the Ligurian Appennines. It is situated between the small towns of Camogli and Santa Margherita Ligure and is home to the Portofino Regional Nature Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the Ligurian region. 

Established in 1935, the nature park hosts an amazing variety of Mediterranean flora and wildlife: boars and wild goats, and many other species such as stone martens, foxes, dormice, weasels, bats, and birds which include green woodpeckers, nightingales, kestrels, owls and barn owls. In 1999 the park was further extended following the creation of a protected marine reserve, part of which is classified as an integral marine reserve and is an off-limits boating zone (Cala dell’Oro). 

Terre Rosse Parco Portofino Trekking 003From Agriturismo Terre Rosse Portofino you can reach the loveliest spots on the promontory, either along the splendid coastal paths or via the many marked paths that run across the park towards Portofino Vetta (610 mt.), Santa Margherita and Camogli.

Parco Portofino Trekking 005From Agriturismo Terre Rosse Portofino you can reach the loveliest spots on the promontory, either along the splendid coastal paths or via the many marked paths that run across the park towards Portofino Vetta (610 mt.), Santa Margherita and Camogli.

The itineraries are clearly marked – some are easy, whereas others require more hiking experience and present various levels of difficulty. Click on the following link to download the map of the park paths with detailed descriptions of the itineraries.

Terre Rosse Chiesa San Pietro Porto VenereMaps of the paths and further information is also available at our Agriturismo. The main seaside resorts on the promontory (Portofino, San Fruttuoso, Santa Margherita Ligure, Camogli) can also be reached by ferryboat, offering wonderful views of the cliffs and coastline: a pleasant alternative we advise you to consider (Ferryboat Timetable).

Portofino

Parco Portofino Baia 003Portofino is considered one of the most beautiful and picturesque seaside villages in the world,  with its colorful houses overlooking the small natural harbor, bustling and cosmopolitan in the summer, quiet and sleepy in the winter. Stroll along the charming narrow streets leading to the square and the pier, visit the Fortress of San Giorgio (Castello Brown) and St. George’s church which offers a beautiful view of the village from the churchyard. And don’t miss the walk to the lighthouse up to the steep cliff overlooking the sea.

Parco Portofino baia 004The Agriturismo Terre Rosse can be reached from Portofino via two different paths (both approx. a 40-minutes’ walk) which both command beautiful views over the Tigullio Gulf and Portofino Bay.

Neither of the paths present any technical difficulties but require a little training for the first part of the path (which presents a difference in height of approx.150 mts), but then runs almost on the flat for the last stretch from San Sebastiano Church to the Agriturismo.

The Sea and the Beaches

Terre Rosse Portofino Spiagge Dintorni 0023The beaches nearest to Portofino are small and very often crowded, especially in summer. The closest beach is in Paraggi and can be reached in a 40-minute walk.

The bus service from Portofino will take you to the beaches in Santa Margherita Ligure.
A wide variety of outdoor and sporting activities is available – the following are just some of the possible options.

San Fruttuoso

Terre Rosse San FruttuosoThe beautiful bay of San Fruttuoso di Camogli with its thousand-year-old Abbey at Capodimonte ranks among the most impressive localities of the promontory, and can be reached both by land or by sea.

Terre Rosse San fruttuoso 004San Fruttuoso Bay can be reached directly from our Agriturismo and constitutes a pleasant walk along a marked path offering breathtaking views of the southern side of the promontory (time taken downhill approx. 1 hour – difference in height approx. 240 mts.); the route is not technically difficult, but strong walking shoes or sneakers are recommended (especially for the final part of the path where there are a few short, steep stretches).

San Fruttuoso can also be reached by boat: a ferryboat service connects it to Portofino and to other resorts along the Riviera (Ferryboat Timetable).

Terre Rosse San fruttuoso 003Worth a visit toAbbaziaThe Abbey is well worth visiting, and was donated to FAI (the non-profit Italian Foundation for the Environment) by Frank and Orietta Pogson Doria Pamphilj. Open to the public from mid-April to mid-October, it has a beautiful cloister housing the funeral monuments in white marble of some members of the Doria family, while the Doria Tower dominates the whole of the Bay.

Terre Rosse San fruttuoso 006There are two delightful small pebble beaches, both equipped in the tourist season with beach umbrellas, and bars and restaurants provide food and drinks.

15 mts down in the depths of the bay, lies the famous bronze statue of the Christ of the Abyss, one of the most popular destinations for divers (guided tours can be arranged through the many different diving centers in Portofino and Santa Margherita).

Santa Margherita Ligure

Santa Margherita Ligure 002This renowned seaside resort with a large marina and several sandy and pebble beaches, extends inwards from the sea towards the hillsides covered in lush Mediterranean vegetation, and dotted with villas and gardens boasting views over the “Dolphin Coast” which stretches from Santa Margherita to Portofino.

The district of Santa Margherita includes the three villages of Nozarego, San Lorenzo della Costa and Paraggi (with its beautiful sandy beach).

Santa Margherita Ligure Villa Durazzo 01Santa Margherita is a very lively little town, and is well worth a visit to admire the Old Town with its beautiful old buildings with their colorful, decorated facades, Villa Durazzo and the park, the Castle and the promenade which runs along the coast for 5 kms as far as Portofino. Large stretches of the promenade have a wooden walkway running right next to the sea which is very popular with both joggers and walkers.

Terre Rosse Santa Margherita Ligure Castello 003Santa Margherita can also be reached from our Agriturismo either on foot via a mountain route (an easy walk taking approx. one hour) going in the direction of Nozarego, and which offers one of the most beautiful panoramas of Santa Margherita. Alternatively, there is a bus service connecting Portofino to the main beaches of Santa Margherita (line 782 – link to timetable and bus network information).

Terre Rosse Santa Margherita Ligure Passeggiata 003Santa Margherita Ligure offers railway connections, bus and ferryboat services towards the main resorts of the Eastern Riviera, or Riviera di Levante (Portofino, Camogli, Sestri Levante, the Cinque Terre), and also to Genova (a 30-minute journey by train).

Camogli

Terre Rosse Camogli 002This lovely little seaside town overlooking the Paradise Gulf is well worth a visit. The local district includes the villages of Ruta, San Fruttuoso, San Rocco as well as a large part of the Portofino Regional Nature Park.

Camogli is well-known for its colorful buildings overlooking the beach. The colors and lighter horizontal lines (known as “marcapiano”) were designed to help local sailors spot their homes from out at sea (traditionally, Camogli was a village of fishermen and sailors, where wives and mothers spent long periods of the year alone looking after their children and waiting for the return of their husbands and sons – hence the name “Ca’ mogli”, i.e. Home of the wives). Most buildings in the old part of town were built onto, modified and enlarged throughout the centuries, sometimes by simply adding on rooms (following the birth of a child) or as a form of investment of men’s earnings after a long period at sea.

Wonderful views of Camogli are offered both by taking the mountain path from Portofino, or arriving by sea on the ferryboat connecting Camogli to San Fruttuoso, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure and other seaside resorts.

We advise you to combine both the hiking and ferryboat options, which allow you to admire Camogli from different but equally beautiful perspectives

Le Cinque Terre

Terre Rosse Punta Mesco And Punta Di MonteneroThe Cinque Terre, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, cover a rugged coastal area of the Eastern Riviera between Punta Mesco and Punta di Montenero.

Terre Rosse Chiesa San Pietro Porto VenereThere are five small seaside villages in the area, which became a National Park in 1999, and in ancient times these were known as “terre” (lands): Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

Canoeing trips – KAYAK

Tandem flights in Paragliding

BOAT RENTAL

TENNIS

Municipal outdoor tennis court for a fee (Decoturf) at 5 minutes’ walk from the house (reservation possible upon request)

BIKE TOURS

The use of bicycles is allowed only through the rental and private service of guides.
Portofino Bike
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DRONES

Flying and aerial shots with drones on the Portofino promontory are strictly prohibited.

Useful Links
Regional Nature Park of Portofino www.parks.it/parco.portofino/man.php
Liguria Region Transport Bus Network (Timetables) www.amt.genova.it/amt/orari/TOC/
Ferryboats – Tigullio Gulf Lines (Portofino) www.traghettiportofino.it/
Ferryboats – Gulf Paradiso Lines (Camogli)www.golfoparadiso.it
Trains (Timetables and Tickets)www.trenitalia.com/
The Trainlinewww.thetrainline.com/
Genova’s Aquarium www.acquariodigenova.it/
Santa Margherita Ligure www.smlturismo.it/
Diving www.apneaworld.com/
Hiking (Paths and maps) www.portofinotrek.com/trek/
Paragliding & Outdoors Sports – Liguria www.liguriadventure.it

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