The coast to the west of Genoa between Genoa and the town of Imperia impresses with its wide sandy beaches and do justice to its nickname "Palm Riviera": more than 70 different palm species flourishes here wonderfully! The legendary seaside resorts Alassio and the picturesque Laiguelia with its impressive harbor are definitely worth a visit.
The so-called “Flower Riviera” between the coastal cities of Imperia and Ventimiglia rightly fascinates many visitors, as you can find some beautiful flower gardens in front of the massive scenery of the Maritime Alps. Further places to discover in this region are the following: Sanremo with its famous Chanson Festival, Cervo, Ventimiglia with the world-famous Hanbury-Gardens and Bordighera with the northernmost palm forest in Europe. For many centuries, the city of Bordighera has been supplying even the Vatican with palm leafs during Easter! The Ligurian Apennines, which characterize the Riviera di Levante west of Genoa, decisively shaped the coastal relief: harsh and steep cliff formations impress with roaring mountain streams and sleepy towns.
The city La Spezia awaits you with its remarkable harbor and the marvelous Golfo dei Poeti.
The fascinating Cinqueterre (five villages), not far from here, became part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, together with the Portovenere, the so-called “Port of Venus”. Here you will also find the well-known “mussel enclosures” which are used for the cultivation of mussels. The low salinity of the sea and the abundance of plankton offer a perfect basis for mussel farming. The famous Portofino, which is located approximately 11 nautical miles east of Genoa, skillfully nestles on the mountain slopes reaching to the coast and is considered the most sophisticated place in this coastal region.
The Ligurian Islands
In addition to the small island of Gallinara (0,6 km²) near the town of Albenga in the western province of Savona, the remaining three Ligurian islands are located in the province of La Spezia and compete the Golfo dei Poeti / Gulf of La Spezia. With 1.6km², Palmaria is the largest of these three islands and only 105 meters from the Italian mainland away. There are some impressive grottos on this island, such as the Grotta Azzurra, which is only accessible by boat, and the Grotta dei Colombi, which gained fame due to archaeological finds.
If you are interested in visiting spectacular natural parks during your luxury charter, you should definitely visit one of the following in the Liguria region: Cinque Terre, Parco Naturale Regionale dell`Aveto, Parco Naturale Regionale dell`Antola or the Parco Naturale Regionale del Beigua. All of them are worth a visit!
You will surely enjoy your shore leave on a luxury charter in this coastal region!
