Portovenere Villas | Private Luxury Pools | Accommodation

Portovenere is a lovely old fishing village, just south of the Cinque Terre on the Ligurian coast. As part of the Gulf of Poets, a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s a popular choice for day-trippers. With a photogenic harbour, lined with colourful houses, its appeal is immediate. As romantic as the poets, Byron and Shelley, who spent time here, it’s an impossible place to leave. Behind the harbour, medieval streets lined with shops take you up the hill to visit The Doria Castle with its spectacular views. Other places of interest include The Church of San Pietro, a pretty church on the tip of the promontory, and Byron’s Cave – a rocky area where Byron used to swim, sometimes across to his friends, The Shelley’s, in Lerici. Whether its pizza in town or seafood at one of the restaurants lining the waterfront, dining out is delightful, and it’s safe to say, a boat trip out to take in the views of this stunning coastline is a must.