Liguria is characterized by high and rocky coasts and by not wide but pleasant shores.
The weather is among the finest of the Mediterranean area: the average temperature of many seaside-resorts of this region in January is 9° C, while the average temperature in July doesn't exceed 24° C.
The resorts of Liguria are to be found along the coast and they are interrupted by some promontories: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore that form the National Park of Cinque Terre: the five villages are situated over some stone buttresses overhanging the sea, where you can admire charming bays, small beaches with rocks and depths rich in fish species.
The landscape of Cinque Terre is the result of the constant transformation of nature by man, as testified by the terracing of olive trees and vines.
Portovenere, situated at the end of the Gulf of Poets, is a picturesque village over a promontory, while in the opposite part of the Gulf we find Lerici and the villages of Fiascherino, Tellaro and Montemarcello.
The ancient presence of Man is testified by the prehistoric caves in the Island Palmaria in the Gulf of La Spezia, the Balzi Rossi near Ventimiglia and the Arene Candide in Finale Ligure , which are also witness, together with Luni and Albenga, of the Roman and medieval civilizations.
Portofino is an internationally known seaside-resort; it is the result of the confluence of three "civilizations" (the marine, the olive tree and the chestnut civilizations) and was the result of the transformation of a picturesque fishermen village: here you will find a charming landscape, characterised by a very dense network of paths, wild environments, rural villages and seaside villages rich in art and history.
The Park includes the villages of Recco, Camogli, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Zoagli and Chiavari.
Sanremo is an internationally known seaside-resort and it is the official seat of many cultural shows, among which we remember the Festival of the Italian popular singers, which takes place every year in February.
Its economy is founded on floriculture and tourism: that's why it is nicknamed the town of flowers and sun.
Helped by very fine weather, Sanremo offers the famous Casino (situated in one of the finest streets of the centre), a wide golf course, a great horse-racing centre, many discotheques and pubs.
We remember Ospedaletti , a seaside-resort famous for the production of flowers; between Capo Berta and Capo Cervo there is Diano Marina , between Capo Cervo and Capo Mele Marina di Andora , while in the inlet between Capo Mele and Capo S. Croce we find Laigueglia e Alassio , the biggest seaside-resort of Liguria.
>From Albenga to Savona there are the seaside-resorts of Ceriale, Loano, Pietra Ligure e Borgio Verezzi , Finale Ligure , Varigotti, Noli and Spotorno ; from Savona to Voltri there is Albisola Marina (a village famous since the Seventeenth Century for the production of pottery), Celle Ligure (characterised by a hilly landscape with pine-trees, olive trees and vines), Varazze and Arenzano.
Genoa is the seat of the local government and the main Italian trading harbour; it is also the terminus of the ferries towards the Italian islands, Corsica, Tunisia and Spain; visit the "Città Vecchia" (old town), Piazza St. Matthew and the Romanesque-gothic Church of St. Matthew, the Cathedral of St. Laurence, the sixteenth century Church of St. Ambrose and the Palazzo Ducale, which once was the house of the "Doge", the first magistrate of the Genoese State.

LOCAL CULINARY SPECIALITIES:
First of all, extra virgin olive oil and "pesto" , a sauce for pasta made of basil, pine nut, garlic, olive oil and parmesan cheese.
First course: "trofie", " ravioli", rice and "linguine" with pesto, "pansoti" with nut sauce, roast rice with meat, artichokes and peas.
Second course: "cima ripiena" (stuffed veal ), tripe "alla genovese", chicken and rabbit with pesto, or "alla ligure" (with tomato, red wine, olives and rosemary), fish such as stuffed mussels and "moscardini all'inferno".
Desserts: "pandolce", marzipan, macaroons of Sassello, "baci" of Alassio and the "canestrelli" of Torriglia, "farinata" and "panissa", both made with chickpea flour.
Wines: il Dolceacqua, il Pigato, il Vermentino, l'Ormeasco, il Rossese, il Golfo del Tigullio, Colline di Levanto, Colli di Luni (nelle varianti Vermentino, Bianco e Rosso), il Cinque Terre, lo Sciacchetrà, il Moscato Dolce ed il Moscato Passito.