Sestri Levante

Located in the middle of the coastline stretching from Portofino to Cinque Terre, Sestri Levante closes off the Gulf of Tigullio on the east and has an age-old seafaring tradition. Sailors and fishermen built their houses that hug the small peninsula jutting into the sea to form two bays: Baia del Silenzio and Baia delle Favole. You'll be charmed by the leudi, the splendid old fishing boats that are kept in perfect condition, and by the colourful façades of the houses that dot this ancient village. You can set out from the bays - outfitted with nets and trawl lines - to sail on a typical Ligurian gozzo and fish for lobsters, hake and mullet, as the sea lulls you and gently pushes you toward the ancient seaside town of Riva Trigoso and the reef of Asseau, which closes the gulf toward Cinque Terre. If you plan your excursion for July 16th, you'll be there in time to admire the magnificent procession of the Crosses - one of the loveliest of all Liguria - that starts out from the seventeenth-century basilica of Santa Maria di Nazareth (Our Lady of Nazareth). Another church in Sestri that is also worth visiting is the one dedicated to San Nicolò dell'Isola (St. Nicholas of the Island), located at the highest point on the peninsula over the site of the castle the Genoese built in 1145. One last comment for those who love to taste typical local dishes: when you're in Sestri, be sure to try capun magro, made with mosciame (dried tuna), hake, anchovies and plenty of vegetables.