It has been several years since our last visit to Portofino, a fishing village and holiday resort on the Italian Riviera, so we decided to return.
Last autumn a terrifying storm hit the area and part of the road into Portofino from Santa Margherita Ligure was destroyed. It is still being repaired so we took the 15 minute boat ride from the pier in Santa Margherita.
Arriving in Portofino by boat is an excellent way of doing things. It is a tiny harbour with a semicircle of gorgeous colourful buildings. We even managed some blue sky after a cloudy start.
I spotted this interesting relief above one of the churches near the harbour.
…and this above an old door.
It doesn’t take long to wander around the harbour, so a short walk up the hill behind the village was in order.
From the path is an excellent view of 16th century Castello Brown. The 1922 novel Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim was inspired by the author’s stay there. A film of the same name was filmed in the Castello in 1991. I recommend both the novel and the film.
There is a pretty church at the top of the path with a kind face watching from beside it.
The view of the harbour from the top is worth the walk.
We enjoyed a delicious seafood lunch at La Gritta.
The open air gallery was not open, but some of the exhibits can be seen from below and above.
The boat sailed past an enormous yacht and some spectacular houses on its way in and out of Portofino.
Many of the businesses along the water’s edge were damaged in the storm last year, but most are well on the way to being ready for the season. We were informed that the road will open this Sunday, 7th April. I’m sure things will be back to normal soon.
The road in to Portofino is narrow and there isn’t a great deal of parking in the town, so the boat from Santa Margherita Ligure is a good idea. Tickets cost €12 return and can be bought on the pier from where the boat leaves.