Portofino & Sestri di Levante

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Day 8 - Our optional excursion is a visit to Portofino & Sestri di Levante.


 PORTOFINO 



Enjoy Andrea Bocelli’s “Love in Portofino”.
Portofino is a small fishing village in the province of Genoa.  It may be better known as a resort for the rich and famous. Facing the harbor is the Piazzetta, the central gathering place with boutiques, cafes and beautiful views.  A walk from the harbor leads to the promontory. 
The surrounding sea is a marine-protected area established to protect the rarities of the seabed - sea fans, sponges, corals, seagrass meadows and red coral.  Upon the promontory stands the Chiesa San Giorgio, a Catholic church once completely destroyed by WW2 bombs. It holds the relics of St. George, patron saint of Portofino. High above, defending the harbor since the 15C,  is Castello Brown, now a museum.  Below it is the cemetery.  In the sea between Portofino and nearby Camogli is the submerged "Statue of Christ of the Abyss" which represents Christ in the act of blessing and protecting fishermen and divers.

Piazzetta


Castle Brown


Church of St. George & Cemetery

Christ of the Abyss



 Sestri di Levante
Originally, Sestri di Levante was an ancient maritime and merchant center sitting on an island.  Today the island is connected to the shoreline by a sliver of land.  The village sits between two bays.  The Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence) has a romantic harbor, a boardwalk, quiet beaches and an abundance of gozzi - colorful boats resting on the beach after a day of fishing.  On the other side is Baia della Favole (Bay of Fables), so named as a tribute to Hans Christian Anderson who once lived here.  It features a seafront promenade, bigger beaches, more houses and a lively atmosphere.  Some prominent sites are the Galleria Rizzi in a villa right on the beach containing Italian and European paintings;  the Chapel of St. Nicolo in Isola, a stone church nestled in the trees overlooking the bay; and the mysterious ruins of the Oratory of Santa Caterina which bear witness to the war that destroyed the church.  And, we must remember that a little shop, "Ice Cream Angels", claims to have the best gelato in town.

Sestri's two bays.

Chapel of San Nicole


 Galleria Rizzi

Oratory of Santa Caterina


A view worth the hike.



Photo credits in order:
 1.  https://pixabay.com/photo-2827298/
 2.  https://flic.kr/p/jSyW36
 9.  Public Domain 

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