Portofino: A Gem of the Italian Riviera

An upscale fishing village: possibly a phrase you've never heard to describe a town before. But it's the perfect description of Portofino, Italy. Sitting along the coast of the Italian Riviera, this tiny town is teeming with life and color. Sitting in the town square on edge of the marina, you can watch the constant motion of boats (little dinghies as well as the most massive yachts I've ever seen) coming in and out and folks meandering along the one main waterfront street, curved with the harbor, lined with restaurants, some of which even have tables on floating barges. During my three days in town, I ate my weight in pesto and discovered my new favorite white - a Vermentino. I hiked up to Castello Brown and San Giorgio church for panoramic views of the harbor and the Mediterranean. I spent the day driving south along the coast to visit neighboring villages and their beautiful beaches and the night witnessing unmatched sunsets over Portofino harbor. 

You hear a lot of buzz lately about other coastal Italian destinations such as the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre, but after my few days floating in the bliss of Portofino, I urge you to add it to your list.

With that being said, I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking:

As you can see, Portofino is an idyllic vacation destination that I would gladly return to.

Have you been? What's your favorite stretch of the Italian coast?