Portofino
by call_me_rhia
Portofino is a very postcard-charming small village (500 inhabitants) with the reputation of being very fashionable. It really must be the world’s smallest tourist spot of such importance. It’s located 36 km east of Genoa and stands in a protected bay in the Tigullio Gulf.
The name, apparently, has a very old origin.it is said that it derives from the name of a village that used to be found in this locaton during the Roman Empire: Portus Delphini, the dolphin’s port, because the Gulf used to be inhabited by tghose creatures. Portofino has narrow lanes, a small pebbled square and colourful houses, leaning one against another – like the typical Ligurian fishing village it used to be. But now, instead of fishermen, you are most likely to find VIP lounging around in their huge yachts.
Famous people that have links with Portofino include kings (Richard Lionheart), popes (Gregory XI), writers (Guy de Maupassant) and inventors (Guglielmo Marconi)
the windows are fake! :)
by kinkers
When you see the pictures, you must look closely at the buidlings and window frames. It took me a while to figure out "why does this place remind me of disneyland?". Eventually, we figured out that we were looking at flat buildings with painted window frames and shadows, to make it look like they were actual structural window frames! The attached pic shows. On the right you can see there is nothing sticking out for a widow frame. But on the left side facing you, it realy looks like there is!. I was pretty impressed because i'm so simple. :) The view from the castello brown. Go there, watch the people in their boats sunbathing in the little cove. makes you want to be there.
the harbour
by MATIM
Portofino is a small village that you can easily walk around in two hour.
I don’t advice you to sit on a terrace on less you have lots of money to spend cause everything you order is very expensive.
The old castle
by globetrott
The old castle had great strategic importance since times of the roman empire, as from there the whole bay of La Spezia + the Ligurian Coast could be seen and approaching enemies had no chance to land on the coast undetected.
from Santa Margherita to Portofino
by MATIM
Portofino is car free, we drove along a narrow road from Santa Margherita Ligure, we had to be careful for all the walkers, cyclists and cars that drove towards us.
This is the only way you can enter Portofino, that is situated on a peninsula.
Entering Portofino there is one parking garage where you can park your car for €5,-- an hour.
The door
Oratorio di Nostra Signora Assunta
Ferragamo, Zegna, Missoni & more
The harbour of Portofino - May 09
