Curious travellers will enjoy a very different side to the region if they venture out into Genoa’s exquisite satellite villages just along the coast for a day trip. Each has its own character and specialties that you’ll soon get to know. Here’s our guide to the must-see Genoese villages.
Devour divine gelato in Boccadasse
A gentle amble along the pretty Corso Italia promenade – or a taxi if you’re feeling lazy – will take you from cosmopolitan Genoa proper, to Boccadasse, an adorable old fishing village and a multi-coloured, multi-tiered feast for the senses. Do as the locals do and grab an outlandishly yummy gelato and join the cheerful knots of happy people watching the sunset over the warm placid sea – for best results bring a towel and stake out a spot for the afternoon on the dinky pebble beach.
Book flights and holidays to ItalySee natural wonders in Nervi
A little further east from the city – electric scooter hire is a good bet – and you’ll be revelling in the rarefied atmosphere of Nervi. A longstanding favourite of upscale travellers, Nervi’s dramatic clifftop terrain and tastefully decadent villas provide an elegant backdrop to your visit. Take in the flora and fauna of the village’s botanical park, with over 100 eye-catching species and a world-renowned rose garden or browse highbrow treasures at the GAM Modern Art Gallery.
Book flights and holidays to ItalyImbibe Italian decadence in Camogli
A scenic half-hour train from Genoa proper, Camogli is the quintessential riviera village. Amid dramatic rocky surroundings, its exquisite jumble of technicolour facades rise up from the beach making a dreamy spot to spend an evening on the bay while the ancient rhythms of the local fishing folk ebb and flow around you. Dozens of restaurants and bijou bakeries line haphazard narrow alleyways – grab a local specialty focaccia, still warm from the oven – salty, olive-infused and irresistible.
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