Sestri Levante

The enchanting panoramas of Liguria have the power of stopping the course of time, a welcome break from the frenzy of daily life and work. The landscapes of Liguria are a bless for the soul, a quality that George Byron deservedly attributed to Sestri Levante, the heart of the Tigullio. The place is a Garden of Eden of lofty noble palaces, elegant gardens, art treasures, old fashioned botteghe and bookshops. Between sea of blue and verdant hills, the lively atmosphere of the centro storico is framed by the mind as the most touching of images in the pages of its Ligurian album.
Surrounded by olive groves, vineyards and chestnut trees, Sestri Levante welcomes visitors with the magic of its two bays, whence the name “città dei due mari”: the baia delle Favole to the west, and the baia del Silenzio to the east, a beach of boats and fishermen where time has stopped.

This lively yet cosy Mediterranean resort boasts an array of splendid hotels, noble palazzo, scenting gardens, amateur shops - Lord Byron loved the comforting effect of the place on his restless soul. Hans Christian Andersen figures among the village fans, too. Nowadays, a children literature prize entitled to the great fairytale writer takes place in Sestri at the end of May.

This atmospheric seaside resort (19,000 inhabitants, and IAT tourist information centre) can be explored along three different itineraries. The first one starts in the centro storico, a maze of alleys inundated by the breath of the sea (you are in the reign of anchovies, featuring in tasty “bagnùn”).

Close by, in a panoramic postion over the Baia del Silenzio, the Pinacoteca Pizzi is a remarkable casa-museo displaying a collection of Italian and Flemish paintings (17th/18th cent.).
The second itinerary is dedicated to the aquatic element: soft beaches, clear waters, exciting sea sports (aquagym, diving – discover the black coral of Punta Manara) and environment-friendly stabilimenti balneari compose the best of medleys.

The last itineraries turns its back to the coast and head to the entroterra: from the Val Petronio (do not miss the santuario of Velva) to the Val di Vara, the scenic Passo did Cento Croci linking Liguria and Emilia. An area plenty of green, traditions and gastronomy – wine in Verici, strawberries in Bargone – that completes your coastal stay in the Tigullio with the pleasure of a 365 days a year exploration.