Santa Margherita / Italy

In the northwestern part of Italy, just 35 kilometers southeast of Genoa, lies Santa Margherita on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the Liguria region. The town, also known as Santa Margherita Ligure, has about 9,000 inhabitants and is one of the most beautiful resorts of the Levante Riviera.

There may have once been a Roman settlement on the site of today's Santa Margherita, but its existence has not been proven. In the 10th century, the area was devastated by the Saracens, and in the first half of the 13th century, it became part of the Genoese Republic. In 1432, Santa Margherita was attacked by the Venetian fleet, during the Napoleonic rule it was known as Porto Napoleone, and finally, in 1861, it became part of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy. After the end of World War II, Santa Margherita transformed into a popular tourist resort, which it remains to this day.

A tour of Santa Margherita can begin with a walk along the beautiful waterfront promenade lined with elegant hotel facades on land, a lovely sandy beach, and luxury yachts at sea.

As early as 1550, the Castello di Santa Margherita Ligure was built for defense against pirate attacks from North Africa, and in 1658, the Basilica of Saint Margaret of Antioch was built on the remains of a 13th-century church, to which a baroque-style tower was added in the 18th century. The pair of beautiful historic houses known as Villa Durazzo boasts not only luxurious interiors and a wide collection of 17th and 18th-century paintings but also magnificent Italian gardens full of lemon trees, camellias, and other Mediterranean species with beautiful sea views.

 Santa Margherita is an ideal starting point for exploring the eastern part of the Ligurian coast. South of the harbor, on a natural terrace, lies Nozarego with a nice little church, and several trails of the Portofino Regional Park start from here. One of them leads to the eponymous fishing village at the very tip of a small peninsula, known for its small cobbled square overlooking the harbor, pastel houses, and excellent restaurants offering the freshest fish and seafood. San Fruttuoso to the west is synonymous with an abbey, founded in a tiny bay right on the seashore as early as the 10th-11th century.

Rapallo, north of Santa Margherita, was already favored by famous poets and writers like Ezra Pound or D. H. Lawrence in the 1920s, so it's no wonder that the town soon became the largest and most important seaside resort in all of northwestern Italy. Visitors can look forward to a pleasant waterfront promenade, a historic center with cobbled streets, a mid-16th-century castle, several beautiful churches, or an interesting museum dedicated to lace. A 2.5-kilometer cable car takes those who don't want to overcome the 600-meter elevation on hot summer days to the Montallegro sanctuary, from which breathtaking views open up.

Those who have time can ideally set out on a boat to explore the beauties of the famous Cinque Terre, a group of five ancient villages between La Spezia and Levanto, lining the stunning coastline of the dramatic cliffs of the Cinque Terre National Park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The coast of Santa Margherita boasts a number of beautiful small beaches. Among the most famous are Spiaggia Minaglia, just a stone's throw from the harbor, or Punta Pedale and Gio e Rino a little further south.  

Places worth seeing

Villa Durazzo - Stroll through the beautiful Italian gardens and the luxurious interiors of the villa with a collection of 17th and 18th-century paintings.

Spiaggia Minaglia – Relax, sunbathe, and swim on the lovely pebbly beach south of the harbor. 

Abbazia di San Fruttuoso – Don't miss a visit to the thousand-year-old abbey, set in a small bay right on the seashore.

Santuario Basilica Nostra Signora di Montallegro - Enjoy the breathtaking views from the 16th-century sanctuary at an altitude of 600 meters.

Parco Regionale di Portofino – Embark on a hike through the fairy-tale landscape of the natural park on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast.

Cinque Terre - Be captivated by the scenery of the rocky coast with five picturesque villages, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.