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Latest Portofino hotel reviews
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Favorite thing: 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.
Fondest memory: 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)
Written Jul 22, 2010
Favorite thing: The most common European emergency number 112 (following Directive 2002/22/EC: Universal Service Directive) and also standard on GSM mobile phones. 112 is used in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom in addition to their other emergency numbers.
Here are some useful phone numbers that you might need while in Italy:
Ambulance: 118
Fire: 115
State Police: 113
Carabinieri: 112
Forest Service: 1515
Guardia di Finanza (Customs/Financial Police): 117
Coast guard: 1530
Written Jan 5, 2010
Favorite thing: Portofino is tugged away between Genova and the Cinque Terre at the Ligurian Coast.
The highway A 12 runs along the coast from Genova, passed Recco, Rapallo towards Chiavari. An exit is clearly marked to Portofino.
One can also reach Portofino by boat from Camogli or S. Margherita.
Or as many today will do - they arrive by cruise ship and tender right into the heart of Portofino.
Written Jun 2, 2009
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Favorite thing: 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. :)
Fondest memory: 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.
Written Apr 27, 2009
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Favorite thing: Below few words in Italian that you can use while visiting Italy.
Waiter / Waitress! - Cameriere/ Cameriera, per favore!
May I have the menu, please? - Potrei avere il menu, per favore?
Do you have a set menu / local specialities? - Avete un menu fisso/ delle specialità locali?
What do you recommend? - Cosa mi raccomanderebbe?
Do you have vegetarian dishes? - Avete dei piatti vegetariani?
bread - pane
butter - burro
cheese - formaggio
coffee - caffè
cream - panna (montata)
ice cream - gelato
lemon - limone
milk - latte
mineral water - acqua minerale
mustard - senape
pepper - pepe
salad - insalata
salt - sale
sugar - zucchero
tea - tè
yes/no - si/ no
please / thank you - per favore/ grazie
good morning - Buongiorno
good afternoon - Buon pomeriggio
good evening - Buona sera
good night - Buona notte
good-bye - Arrivederci
excuse me - mi scusi
you're welcome - prego
how long / how far - per quanto tempo/ quanto è lontano
yesterday / today / tomorrow - ieri/ oggi/ domani
day / week / month / year - giorno/ settimana/ mese / anno
left / right - sinistra/ destra
up / down - su/ giù
good / bad - buono/ cattivo
big / small - grande/ piccolo
cheap / expensive - economico/ caro
hot / cold - caldo/ freddo
open / closed - aperto / chiuso
free/ occupied - libero / occupato
early / late - presto/ tardi
Does anyone here speak English? - Qualcuno qui parla inglese?
I don't speak (much) Italian. - Non parlo l'italiano/ molto italiano.
Could you repeat that? - Per favore, potrebbe ripetere?
Could you spell it? - Per favore, potrebbe fare lo spelling?
Can you translate this for me / us? - Potrebbe tradurre questo per me/ per noi?
What does this mean? - Che cosa vuol dire?
I don't understand. - Non capisco.
How much is that? - Quanto costa?
Does this bus / train stop at ... ? - Questo autobus/treno ferma a...?
Monday - lunedì
Tuesday - martedì
Wednesday - mercoledì
Thursday - giovedì
Friday - venerdì
Saturday - sabato
Sunday - domenica
Updated Apr 30, 2008
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Favorite thing: 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.
Written Apr 11, 2005
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Favorite thing: Its funny to see these signs all over Italy...
...and even more funny to see, that the law was given already in 1979...
...while it was really executed just recently
Castle Brown is seen in the background, and you also see the huge pinetree, that was planted around 1875 on the terrace , when Mr. Brown bought the castle.
Updated Apr 10, 2003
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Favorite thing: The most expensive villas are of course the ones on higher up the hills, on top of the village.
From San Giorgio and the castle you will have a great overview on these villas with great parks around them.
Written Apr 10, 2003
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Favorite thing: 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.
Updated Apr 10, 2003
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Favorite thing: In the 1950s and 1960s the international Jet Set found an exclusive and remote place in Portofino.
During my visit there was an exhibition of old black&white pics of Hollywood celibrities beeing on holiday in Portofino.
Well, most of them left and were searching for different places...
...BUT the high prizes STAYED in Portofino!!!
Written Apr 9, 2003
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Reviews and photos of Portofino attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Portofino sightseeing.
In the 1950s and 1960s the international Jet Set found an exclusive and remote place in Portofino.During my visit there was an exhibition of old black&white...
Q: 2 65yo ladies looking for clean budget place to stay near portofino. $80 per day max...any ideas. Our 1st ime in Italy!
A: Hi Just to clarify - do you mean $80.00 each or for both of you?
Read 5 Replies
1
Portofino & the Cat, who wanted to be on VT !!
Have a look on my large pic-combination : The cat below walked by, while I had a rest in the Bay of Portofino, and she sat down and waited until I made a pic... ...clever cats know, how to get to VT...
2
Portofino - Jewel of the Italian Riviera
Situated in a narrow cove is one of Italy’s most picturesque and enchanting places. Tiny Portofino owes its fame and popularity to its spectacular setting, agreeable climate and lush, luxuriant...
3
I've got some interesting experiences in Portofino. I'd love to share with you the 6 tips I've written, the 14 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created.
4
Portofino is one of the most popular seaside resorts in the Italian Riviera and was the favorite of the rich and famous during its 1950s heyday. Portofino is a beautiful village of pastel colored...
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"A little village stretching like an arch of the moon around a quiet basin. Never have I felt the way I did when I walked into that green indefiniteness, with such a sense of peace and fulfilment". ...
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