Golfo del Tigullio e Portofino

The gulf of the Tigullio embraces the majestic and luxuriant promontory of Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Chiavari, Lavagna, famous for the extraction of the slate, Sestri Levante delimited to west from the Bay of the Fables and to east from the Bay of the Silence, places of magic atmospheres. Portofino, small and almost inaccessible bay, is the jewel of the gulf with its village, small square, majestic villas hidden among the olive trees. The extraordinary combination of details made Portofino a worldwide symbol of beauty and exclusiveness The town council is in a bay to the feet of the homonymous promontory, 36km far from Genoa. Portofino belongs to the Regional Natural Park of Portofino with others town council of Liguria. According to Plinio il vecchio, Portofino was founded by the Romans under the name Portus Delphini for the large quantity of these animals (the dolphins) in the Tigullio Gulf. During the Middle Ages, with Saint Margherita Ligure, was inserted in the Capitanato di Rapallo and the natural port of Portofino was used as shelter for the mercantile navy of Genoa Republic. The Congress in Vienna (1815) assigned the town territory (with the Republic in Genoa) to the Kingdom of Sardinia and then to the Kingdom of Italy (1860).

TO VISIT
The seabeds: In Portofino waters one can admire the cliffs walls and, from a depth of 5 mt, the habitat of the Oceanic Poseidon, an index of high level of salinity. For lovers of the nautical sport; many events take place during the year beginning from the Tigullio Winter Championship , Prada Sailing Week, an old boats regatta, to the Zegna Trophy in May.
Rapallo Lace Museum: the lace working with spiral and bobbin is typical of Rapallo tradition and it has become famous in the world. Women began to make laces with the left over thread of the fishermen nets.
Slate Museum in Cicogna: the slate is history and tradition combined. This stone is used for making the abbadinis, traditional tiles of the Ligurian houses.

AT TABLE
Do not forget to try the lasagne pasta of Portofino made with pesto sauce, parmesan cheese and stracchino (soft cheese).