Here's the download on this seriously off the beaten path secluded hippie artist village:…read moreDating back to as early as the second half of the ninth century, this little village has been operating autonomously, sans the government of Genoa, since as early as 1429. An earthquake in 1887 led to a series of eviction orders by the police and the tiny city remained in ruins until the mid 20th century when Italian immigrants began to illegally settle. Following the artistic revolution of the 1960's, a small group of international artists claimed the village and began to rebuild the destruction out of the original materials and remains of the ruins, despite the police eviction order. When the Italian authorities arrived at the village to enforce the order, they faced a rowdy group of angry artists and international media representatives. They backed off, and the village has been in the hands of these open minded crafters ever since. We enjoyed glasses of wine, a plate of parma, and fresh vegetables for a seriously low cost (say 11 euros total) aperitivo as we simultaneous took in the expansive view of lush green hills rolling down to the Italian Riviera. The local artisans sat and talked in groups at the tables, and also on blankets out in the nearby field. Conversation, smoking and drinking wine seem to be the modus operandi during the evenings here, and they are in no hurry to serve you or anyone else. Please, be respectful and don't come with a touristic attitude.

Fabulous must visit part of Genoa. I am in love with this city and it's massive medieval centre…read morewhich is supposed to be the biggest in Europe. Via Garibaldi is an amazing street with lots of small palaces and amazing architecture surrounding it. I could spend days here photographing buildings and narrow lanes :-)))) I would recommend this as a must visit :-)

Stunning location and excellent dining. The beauty here is beyond belief. Incredible service at our…read morerestaurant that overlooked the castle,river and village. Again, I could attempt to describe this place but words cannot express. Let's just say stunning !!

Porto di Portofino is a beautiful small Italian fishing village and holiday resort famous for its…read morepicturesque harbour and historical association with celebrity and artistic visitors. It is located just a half hour boat, train, or car ride away from the Metropolitan City of Genoa on the Italian Riviera. Potofino is clustered around its small harbour, and is known for the colourfully painted buildings that line it's shore. With a short hike up to Castello Brown or Brown Castle, you can get a awesome view of the port of Portofino and the surrounding area which is ideal for the best photographs! References to Portofino date all the way back to 29 AD. After 1229 it was part of the Republic of Genoa. In 1409 Portofino was sold to the Republic of Florence by Charles VI of France, but when he was ousted from Genoa, the Florentines gave it back. In 1815 it became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia and, from 1861, it became part of the unified Kingdom of Italy. Notable residents include King Richard I of England in 1190 and Pope Gregory XI in 1377 along with several famous politicians, writers, painters, actors, and actresses. The Statue of Christ of the Abyss was placed underwater on 29 August 1954 in the inlet at a depth of 17 metres or 56 ft. This statue was placed to protect fishermen and scuba divers and in memory of Dario Gonzatti, the first Italian to use SCUBA gear, who died in 1947. In 1999, Universal Studios recreated a full-scale replica of Portofino Bay at Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA, but it is missing all the mountains and yachts. In 2001, Portofino inspired a recreation of the seaside town around the harbour at Tokyo DisneySea in Chiba, Japan. In 1959 Dalida released an Italian song "Love in Portofino" which Andrea Bocelli reissued in 2013. In 2017, Ferrari named one of their new V8 sports cars after Portofino. The weather on my visit in August was pretty hot but not cloudy and the town was not too packed with tourists that you couldn't move along the town shops and paths, which was ideal. For those with extra time, you can take a tour of Castello Brown. I highly recommend taking a boat trip to enjoy the beauty of this town and the surrounding area from the water! If you're anywhere near Genoa, Portofino is a must see! I highly recommend visiting for a day trip!