I Love Italian Travel - Liguria Wine Tours

Image via WikipediaSo you are planning to tour Liguria. You have probably heard about the historic port of Genoa from which Christopher Columbus set out to visit "The New World". You may be familiar with the Italian Riviera, unashamed competitor to its French counterpart. Perhaps you have heard about Cinque Terre, five seaside villages that are a favorite with hikers and romantics.
If you haven't been to Liguria you may not have ever tasted Ligurian wine. Not very much is exported to North America. On a personal note, I have tasted and reviewed wines from 19 of Italy's 20 regions. Only Liguria was missing. While researching this article I found a red and a white that I ordered on-line. At lost last I have finally reviewed both in other columns.
The little town of Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the Cinque Terre villages is festival land; it celebrates a Lemon Feast on the Saturday just prior to Ascension Sunday, a Flower Festival of Corpus Christi on the second Sunday after Pentecost, and a Salted Anchovy and Olive Oil Festival on the second weekend of September. Or you may prefer the upscale village of Portofino to see how the other half lives. If you love eating fish you can find a wide variety of restaurants ranging from mom and pop trattorias to fancy restaurants. Or visit the Acquario di Genova, which is Europe's largest aquarium.


The soil is poor; the slopes are steep and well-drained. Liguria has what it takes to produce fine wines. But, perhaps unfortunately, more and more of the agricultural production is going to olive groves, flowers, or housing for the numerous tourists. Ligurian grape varieties include the white Vermentino and the red Ormeasco (known as Dolcetto in neighboring Piedmont) and Rossese. They also produce some wine from one of Italy's red signature grapes, Sangiovese.



Liguria festivals include: Portofino - St. George Bonfire in April, Riomaggiore - Feast of San Giovanni in June. Casella - Historical Festival and Palio in August, Levanto - Maritime Festival in July. Pontinvrea - Cherry Festival in June, Castiglione Chiavare - Eggplant Festival in August and Bogliasco - Olive Oil Festival in August.



Companies offering wine tours of Liguria include La Dolce Vita Wine Tours, Nyala Wonder Travel, and Wine Roads. Liguria wineries that hosting visits include A Maccia Azienda Agricola in Ranzo and Terre Bianche in Dolceacqua. They are both involved in agrotourism, so you can spend a good part of your vacation on site.

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Levi Reiss wrote or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but would rather drink fine French, German, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his new wine, diet, health, and nutrition website www.wineinyourdiet.com and his Italian travel website www.travelitalytravel.com.



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Santa Margherita Ligure - A Slice of Riviera Small-Town Italy

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

Living it Up in Liguria and the Italian Riviera

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By Priscila Siano

For more than 100 years, global tourists have accepted the warmth and splendor of Italy's famous Liguria district and the magnificent Italian Riviera. Long the place where the wealthy and famous would get together to enjoy humid water, extensive sandy beaches, and superior resorts, the prime of some towns in the Italian Riviera has passed but the area still maintains a confident fashionable character that beckons discriminating tourists to come and discover.

Liguria is situated in the northern part of Italy, between the French Riviera, Piemonte, and Tuscany. The climate in the Liguria region is almost always nice and can best be described as balmy. Thanks to its location, it is sheltered from largely horrible weather by the mountains of the Alpine range. The usual summertime temperature is a cozy 77 degrees F and in the winter, it hardly ever dips lower than around fifty degrees. The sunlight is abundant and the foliage is luxuriant. That's why, for decades, it's been attracting the wealthy and celebrated who come to have fun in San Remo's famed casino, enjoy the anchorage at Portofino, or discover picturesque coast towns like Camogli and Rapallo.

Liguria is commonly separated into 2 areas or coasts. West of Genoa is where you'll find customary wide, sandy seashores and the resorts that make it a much-visited holiday spot. This area is known as Riviera di Ponente or Shore of the Setting Sun. Stretching all the way to the French Riviera, this side of Liguria boasts towns such as turn-of-the-century Bordighera, with its striking seashore esplanade; the famous resort of San Remo; the medieval city of Masone; pretty Alassio with its 2-mile extended beach; and the hill town of Sassello.

On the eastern side of Genoa is Riviera di Levante, Shore of the Rising Sun. The towns here are less industrial, the shoreline more rugged. You will not discover the huge resorts on this side of Genoa, however what you will find are several of Italy's most charming small towns, all lined up within only a few miles of each other and eager to receive guests. Head for little Portofino, great for those who want a tiny glitz with their retreat, or if you're looking for something less pretentious, go just a few miles to attractive Santa Margherita Ligure, a charming town that was once a well-known haven but is now hushed, boasting a immaculate seaside and a lot of welcoming locals.

If you are a metropolitan person, however, and you're traveling to the Italian Riviera, don't overlook an opportunity to spend some moment in Genoa, one of Italy's least-visited cities but without doubt worth a stop. Fairly a historic city, Genoa's history can be traced back to the Etruscans of the 5th century BC and the capital is purely filled of magnificent archeological and architectural gems.

The most visited sight in Genoa is perhaps The Palace of the Doges, dating from the 13th century not to be confused with the one in Venice. Other must sees include the magnificent Cathedral of St. Lawrence Cattedrale di San Lorenzo; the Old Harbor area; the Museo d'Arte Oriental with its admirable set of Oriental art; and the excitement and educational Aquarium of Genoa, one of the biggest in Europe. You will in addition desire to get a leisurely walk along the Via Garibaldi. This boulevard, lined with palaces, is a fascinating World Heritage Site.

No matter where you travel in Italy, you'll desire to be sure to savor the local food. Liguria is no exemption. Seafood, of course, is fairly popular, given the region's spot, so anticipate most dining establishments to have an exceptional variety including fish that was just plucked from the sea several hours before dinner is served. The produce in Liguria is equally as alluring and - like the seafood - you'll frequently discover fruit or veggies on your plate that were picked that very same day. Be certain to taste the orata, a yummy local fish, usually cooked with olives and potatoes; or the gattafin, pasta stuffed with beetroot, onion and parmesan. Liguria is also the birthplace of pesto sauce hence keep in mind to order a dish that includes this popular toppings.

Priscila Siano is a lover of all things Italian. She also enjoys writing articles about travel to Italy. For more information about Italy, please visit TourItalyNow.com

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I Love Touring Italy - Springtime In Liguria

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Little Liguria in northeast Italy is the Italian Riviera. It faces the Ligurian Sea and its climate starts to warm in the early spring. To avoid crowds plan on a spring visit. You won't regret it. The Yacht Club of the upscale resort of San Remo, population under 60 thousand, lying about 90 miles (145 kilometers) southwest of Genoa hosts the International Italian Dragon's Cup in late March. While the entry fee is a mere 250 Euros (less than 400 dollars per boat), you do have to provide proof of insurance against claims for a minimum of one million Euros. In spite of the fact that this race is held in Italy, English is the official language of this Regatta. So maybe I will reconsider and you'll see me there.

The towns of Rapallo population about 34 thousand and Santa Margherita Ligure population about 10 thousand, and the village of Portofino population about 500, are close to each other and some 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of Liguria's capital, Genoa. In April they get together to host Cartoons on the Bay, the International Television and Multimedia Animation Festival. The 2010 edition, number 14, takes place between April 15 and April 18. Actually most activities are held in Rapallo and the closing dinner is in Portofino. The program is divided into activities for cartoon professionals and for the general public. The Seventeenth Century Villa Durago in Santa Margherita Ligure offers seminars to industry professionals. But even if you're an amateur you should visit this beautiful Villa and the surrounding city. Try to catch the San Giorgio Bonfire on the 23rd of April in the Portofino Piazzetta. By the way, you are advised to stay in the other two cities rather than in even pricier Portofino, even during the off-season.

In early May Liguria's capital, the port city of Genoa, population about 600 thousand holds a celebration of the seas that they call Slow Fish. There is a traditional fish auction, demonstrations on how to cook fish and seafood, and lots to eat. Save room for traditional Genoa desserts. This program is associated with the Slow Food Movement that concentrates on food quality and protecting the environment.

The coastal city of Camogli, population about 6 thousand is located 12 miles (20 kilometers) east of Genoa. Their Sagra del pesce (Fish festival) is held each year on the 2nd Sunday in May to celebrate the feast of St Fortunato the patron saint of fishermen. A unique feature is the monster frying pans (we're talking about 12 feet or 4 meters in diameter) that cook fresh fish in the open on the last day of the festival. Everyone, and we're talking thirty thousand participants, gets fried fish and it's free. Make sure to taste the "Camogliesi" pastry balls filled with rum-flavored custard.


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Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but he prefers drinking fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods and people. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel website http://www.travelitalytravel.com which includes information on Italian wine and food.

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