A LIGURIAN TREK

Colourful villages protected by grey stone castles, ivory pebbled beaches caressed by the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the deep green foliage of pine forests embracing the hillsides, silvery olive groves and vineyards dramatically clinging onto the slopes – the Ligurian coastline is a masterpiece of tones and textures. Revel in the beauty of the Natural Regional Park of Portofino on a hike to Camogli.

You will meet your private guide in the enchanting seaside resort of Portofino, formerly a community of fishermen and today a fashionable summer hideout, popular with the Italian and international jet set since the late 19th century. Nestled at the foot of a cliff and dominated by the 16th century Castello Brown, the half-moon shaped town clusters around a tiny cove rimmed with colour-splashed buildings hosting upscale boutiques, enticing restaurants and luxury hotels. Portofino might owe its name to the words Portus Delphini, Latin for harbour of the dolphins, which supposedly refer to the schools of dolphins that once populated the Tigullian Gulf.

The town is linked to the neighbouring villages by crisscrossing inland and coastline footpaths that wind their way to the top of vertiginous hills, offering stunning views of the Riviera. Follow your guide on a six-kilometre trek and enjoy the scenery of this unspoiled landscape. On the trail up the steep incline, pause to drink in gorgeous seascapes before heading into the shady hillside vegetation. A 3-hour 30-minute hike along an inland route through protected parkland will bring you to Camogli.

Upon arrival take some free time to refuel and recharge at one of the town’s eateries, then rejoin your guide for a stroll through these lively streets.

The picturesque fishing village of Camogli was once a thriving seaport and shipyard. According to a popular, though somewhat fanciful, belief its etymology derives from the shortened words Casa delle mogli, meaning house of the wives, which is thought to be a reference to the women who guarded the town while their husbands – fishermen, sailors or captains – were away at sea. Ambling along Camogli’s picture-perfect waterfront promenade and up through its narrow alleys, you will certainly notice the exquisite palette of the building’s facades, painted in shades of red, pink, apricot and amber. These pastel-hued houses once helped sea workers find their way back to the port and today provide a delightful pastime for visitors who enjoy spotting the illusions that decorate their exteriors. Lifelike inhabitants peer out of the windows, a graceful cat perches perilously on the window sill… and are those real shutters casting shadows on the wall?

After the visit you may return to Portofino by public ferry boat, private motor boat or private car.