Liguria

Camogli, on the Italian Riviera - Italy

Explore the Cities and Towns of Liguria

Our Local Expertise

Over 20 years of crafting exceptional journeys across Liguria

Licensed & Certified

We work exclusively with accredited guides and professional chauffeurs across Italy.

Local Knowledge

Our team lives and works here, offering insight beyond the landmarks.

Tailored for You

Every itinerary is thoughtfully crafted around your pace, from private dawn tours to intimate vineyard tastings.

Overview

 Liguria, whose history and destiny are closely tied to the sea, is home of the Italian Riviera; sandwiched between the French Riviera and the Tuscan coast, bounded to the north by the Piemontese Alps.

This magnificent coastal area, is best known for its string of glamorous resorts like San Malo, Portofino, and  Cinque Terre) and picturesque fishing villages like Camogli.

The resort towns and coastal villages that stake intermittent claims on the rocky shores of the Liguarian Sea are the long-lost cousins of newer, overbuilt seaside paradises.

Here the largest and grandest  "edifici medioevali" (medieval buildings) share space with frescoed, angular, late 19th century apartment buildings.  The latter day high-rise glitz seems as foreign as the Maine lobster that some of the region's toniest restaurants (incongruously) fly-in for dinner.

For those who want a change from the beautiful beaches and port towns, the hinterland behind the seaside is full of chestnut forests, rugged mountains and ruined castles. The trails connecting Camoglie and Portofino are superb.  Most routes are well marked along the entire coast from Genoa to Portofino and even further south.

Walking or sailing is the best way to enjoy this coastal area and there is little or no need for a car, as convenient transportation (such as the train or ferry system connecting the Cinque Terre and other coastal systems) allow for people to enjoy a stress-free, glamorous holiday.

The rustic and elegant, the provincial and chic, the cosmopolitan and the small-town are blended together here in a sun-drenched pastiche that make this area one of the most exotic, fascinating and sometimes most strange in all Italy.

The regional capital, Genoa ("City of Culture" in 2004), was the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and today is a major commercial port with a winding medieval centre and grand neoclassical palazzi along many of the ancient streets.

Liguria's coastline is divided into the western and eastern Rivieras.  The western end, the Riviera di Ponente, famed for its roses, almond and citrus groves, lies between San Remo and Genoa. The eastern part, the Riviera di Levante, is on a more rugged stretch of coast between Genoa and La Spezia and includes Portofino and Cinque Terre.

Liguria, not content to lie on its beaches, has also contributed gastronomically to the world.  One example: basil, garlic and pinenut sauce - Pesto - layered over everything in the zone from Foccacia (also a Ligurian specialty) to pizza, pasta and panini.  Initially "pesto" as the sauce is known today was invented by  practical-minded Ligurian sailors to avoid scurvy.  Other Ligurian cuisine has its origins in just as imaginative - and practical - thinking!

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Liguria

Stories That Stay With You

Here's what our guests share about their unforgettable journeys

“Jesse & Giuseppe, Sandy and I have been looking through my slides of our trip to Southern Italy. We had such a good time with you and Giuseppe that we wanted to let you know again. You were the best guides ever.”
[Read More] Bob & Sandy
“This company really knows their stuff and recommended our family to stay longer in each location. We didn't listen to them, but wished we had in every single place we went. They recommended Sestri Levante over the Cinque Terre which was our favourite destination on our entire trip. We visited Rome where we stayed in the outstanding Hotel Locorno where they know the owner there, like in every place”
[Read More] Sean & Veet Chapman, CGA
“Dear Guiseppe and Jesse, We just returned from our most wonderful vacation to Italy and wanted to first thank you for putting together such a wonderful trip, and second to provide some feedback for the future. Hotels 1. Hotel Sovestro in San Gimignano was wonderful. The staff were very friendly and helpful and made the first portion of our journey very stress free. They made us feel like we were p”
[Read More] Ron and Deb Crosby
“I am a travel agent from Lebanon and have organized several group tours as well as individual tours of Italy with Italy Vacation Specialists. I highly recommend them as one of the very best tour operators in Italy to work with, given their professionalism and work ethic which I feel is second-to-none in the travel industry. All of the staff, the guides, the coaches and even the meals we enjoyed we”
[Read More] Nicole Haddad, Lebanese Travel Agent
“We're home now from the most amazing trip to Italy! I can't thank you enough for your efforts and coordination of what was without question the finest vacations I've been on to date.”
[Read More] Carol Carson
“In September of 2018 I brought a group of 12 from Venice to Sicily and organized all of my services with the Italy Vacation Specialists. Being a travel agent and in the business, I know how complicated organizing travel arrangements can be in Italy and the IVS team took a huge burden off of me! I would like to start of by saying "THANK YOU" both for the amazing job you did on our trip. There was n”
[Read More] Ann Brownell, KHM Travel Group
“I traveled with JoAnn West through your services, guided by Giuseppe, in July of this year. What a wonderful experience; your service is really top notch! If I return to Italy for a tour, I will absolutely use your services again and recommend you to my friends!”
[Read More] Lucretia Brower
“I am a travel agent with All About Honeymoons and I would highly recommend Italy Vacation Specialists. Jessica was wonderful in helping us plan in a last minute anniversary vacation during high season without any issues. She even checked on our clients while on vacation to make sure things were going well. I plan on using them again soon for all my future bookings!”
[Read More] Tammy Joyce, All About Honeymoons
“I went to high school with the owner of the company who organized my honeymoon for myself and my now wife from Tokyo. We spent three short weeks seeing Piedmont and experiencing wine paradise there, then heading to Nice in France with our private driver and flying to Rome where honestly 4 days is NOT enough. They keep saying to spend more time and we could not agree more! You need to spend more ti”
[Read More] Robin and Kumi Bruun, Tokyo Japan
“The trip was great; we appreciate all the hard work you and your team invested to make our experience a once in a lifetime trip. We appreciate all the attention to the details, in particular Giuseppe spending the time and the focus with us on the road and as we were exploring your great country.”
[Read More] Leon and Michele

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