Image via WikipediaBy Sam Cassidy Santa Margherita Ligure is a picturesque old-fashioned seaside resort situated on the Riviera, located about 35km southeast of Genoa.
You will find palm tree lined streets, charming hotels and villas in addition to breathtaking views of the Gulf of Tigullio.
Despite it's beautiful features that are exactly what many holiday makers are looking for, Santa Margherita Ligure is known as an 'insiders' destination. It is noted for being better value for money than nearby Portofino and far less touristy than Rapallo.
You can get to Santa Margherita Ligure by flying to the closest airports which are Genoa (31 kilometres or 19 miles away) serviced by Ryanair and Pisa (120 kilometres or 74 miles away) serviced by Air Berlin, Easyjet and Ryanair. Train is one of the best options for travelling from these cities in addition to the rest of Italy.
Being a seaport there are also connections by boat to Portofino, Rapallo, San Fruttuoso and Santa Margherita. Timetables do tend to be seasonal, so you are best checking well in advance to avoid disappointment
Some must see places nearby are;
Portofino is a high-class tiny little seaside town, home to exclusive sailing clubs and expensive hotels. Recently it has become more popular with tourists, however it does still keep it's top-shelf feel. You can access Portofino by boat from Santa Margherita Ligure year round (weather permitting).
San Fruttuoso or San Fruttuoso di Camogli is home to two renowned attractions; a very old Benedictine monastery and an underwater bronze statue that is possible to see with the glass-bottomed boats that run regularly in season. There is also a small beach that generally is pretty quiet which is good to escape it all.
Other nearby locations which you might want to see include the picturesque Camogli and Rapallo. [http://www.nominaldesignhotels.com]NominalDesignHotels.com is a regularly updated global hand picked selection of design, boutique and eclectic hotels all around the world for a budget of around US$150 a night and under.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Santa-Margherita-Ligure---A-Slice-of-Riviera-Small-Town-Italy&id=4573364] Santa Margherita Ligure - A Slice of Riviera Small-Town Italy
