7-Night Portofino & Cinque Terre — Genoa to La Spezia
Route Overview
The Route
Day 1 — Genoa: Embarkation
Board at Genoa's Porto Antico — the old port redeveloped by Renzo Piano. Genoa is the most underrated city on the Italian Riviera: the extraordinary Palazzo dei Rolli (UNESCO-listed merchant palaces), the medieval carrugi (narrow lanes), and the world-class aquarium. Welcome dinner at Zeffirino.
Day 2 — Portofino
A short morning sail east to one of the most beautiful small harbours in the world. Portofino's pastel houses, the Castello Brown above the bay, the Church of San Giorgio and the walk to the lighthouse at Punta del Capo. Anchor outside in the bay or secure a coveted berth in the inner harbour. Dinner at Puny or Da Puny — book well in advance.
Day 3 — San Fruttuoso & Santa Margherita
A morning visit by tender to San Fruttuoso — only accessible by boat, a medieval Benedictine abbey in a perfect tiny cove. Dive over the famous Christ of the Abyss (a bronze statue at 15 metres). Return for an afternoon at Santa Margherita Ligure — more accessible than Portofino but equally charming, with good provisioning and a beautiful waterfront.
Day 4 — Sestri Levante & Lavagna
Continue east to Sestri Levante — a beautiful town built on a narrow peninsula with two bays on either side (the Bay of Fables and the Bay of Silence). Excellent fish restaurant at L'Olimpo; the town inspired Hans Christian Andersen to write 'The Little Mermaid'.
Day 5 — Cinque Terre: Monterosso & Vernazza
Arrive at the famous Five Lands — anchor off Monterosso, the largest village, with the only real sandy beach in the five. A morning walk on the coastal path to Vernazza — 1.5km along the cliff, with extraordinary views. Lunch in Vernazza (Gambero Rosso or Trattoria da Sandro) before returning by tender.
Day 6 — Manarola & Riomaggiore
Continue to the southernmost villages — Manarola has the most dramatic setting, built on a rocky spine above the sea; Riomaggiore has the Via dell'Amore (recently reopened) connecting it to Manarola. Overnight at anchor or move into the tiny harbour at Riomaggiore.
Day 7 — Portovenere & Gulf of La Spezia
Sail into the Gulf of La Spezia — the 'Gulf of the Poets', so called because Shelley, Byron and D.H. Lawrence all lived here. Portovenere is a dramatic striped-stone medieval town on a rocky headland; the Church of San Pietro above the sea is extraordinary. The nearby islands of Palmaria and Tino are worth exploring. Final dinner in Portovenere.
Day 8 — La Spezia: Disembarkation
Disembarkation at La Spezia. Pisa International Airport is 1 hour south; Genoa Airport 1.5 hours north. La Spezia station connects directly to Florence and Rome by high-speed train.