Character: Unusually large and well-appointed guestrooms in a small boutique hotel.
Advantages: The location one block from the sea and five minutes walk from the dock and station.
Location: In Rapallo, a lively seaside resort town that is 9 km from Portofino and 37 km from Monterosso. The train station and the docks are less than five minutes’ walk from the hotel and you can visit all towns between Genoa and La Spezia using either of these (boats are more limited than the train). It is also right off the A12 autostrada. The captivating harbor is one block away, and literally hundreds of shops and restaurants are within a 10-minute walk. Yet although it is a mecca for resort travelers, Rapallo remains an authentic Italian seaside village. Click here to see a map.
To those who wish to visit both Portofino and the Cinqueterre, we offer this helpful hint: consider staying in Rapallo. A delightful resort town that lies just 15 minutes south of Genoa, it offers myriad holiday services within the context of a truly authentic Italian town. Unlike overpriced Portofino and the under-serviced Cinque Terre, Rapallo offers a wide range of restaurants from the simplest to the 5-star gourmet, and endless shopping opportunities that include souvenirs as well as the bargains Italians purchase for themselves. When your sightseeing day is done, join the locals for a stroll down the seafront promenade. Here you'll see Gennarino, an elegant grey heron, strutting through the tides in search of his dinner. As the sun slowly sets, duck into any local bar for an apertivo, served with a complimentary buffet that can easily replace dinner. When the evening star appears over the lush wooded promontory that marks the culmination of this classic Italian bay, you will undoubtedly understand the magic that has made Rapallo a world-class destination for discriminating travelers. |
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