Portofino History and Culture
A destination for sea lovers
With its natural splendor and lovely sights, Portofino makes having a perfect day a rather easy and exceedingly fulfilling endeavor. After waking up to the fishing boats and yachts going out to sea or coming in from a long journey, your day should begin with a creamy cappuccino and a buttery pastry at a harbor café. Just next to the harbor are a number of lovely narrow streets perfect for leisurely strolls past Portofino's pretty little pastel-colored homes and quaint churches. Portofino's town center, Piazza Martiri dell'Olivetta, offers first-rate shops that are purveyors of Italy's high fashions and other amenities that are very suitable for window-shopping. After working up a bit of an appetite, meander to a restaurant or trattoria (informal restaurant) that serves up exquisite local cuisine, and have a glass of wine or two to perfectly recalibrate your spirit to the Portofino way of life! Then embark on a lovely promenade in the direction of Portofino's peninsula. Walking alongside the beautiful blue ocean you will pass some of the loveliest and most exotic flora and the region's grandest villas. Just beyond the horizon is Castello Brown, home to some extravagant gardens that provide an excellent view of Portofino's harbor and beautifully colored homes. Beyond the castle, past the lighthouse is the Church of San Giorgio. This site is particularly interesting because it is built on top of a Roman temple honoring the Persian god Mithras. (The view of Portofino from the temple grounds is also impressive.) For those really wanting to stretch their legs, a longer hike through the exotic Monte Portofino Promontory will brink you to the 10th-century Abbey of San Fruttuoso. This journey takes about two hours but is well worth it for the scenic beauty.
At this point in your Portofino vacation it is time to indulge in its sea-related pleasures. Portofino is a famous hub for yachters exploring Liguria's scenic jagged coastline. When money is no object, hiring a yacht in Portofino is the way to go, but for the rest of us, the more realistic option are the boat tours offered by the hotels and several independent companies. Sailing is also big in Portofino, with several suitable places for renting any size boat. Swimming and sunbathing are especially delightful at both its private and public beach clubs, particularly because of the region's striking sea beds. Private beaches offer a variety of water sports like windsurfing, kayaking, and jet skiing. And, consistent with its reputation for entertaining the rich and famous, Portofino offers tennis, bike riding, fishing, and a world-class golf course.
Surprisingly, indulging in all of Portofino's luxury can work up quite an appetite. Like all of the cuisine of Liguria, in Portofino food is made from the simplest ingredients, but in such a way to exalt individual flavors. The most typical ingredients come from its land and seas: local fish, forest mushrooms, nuts, and herbs. Being the home of basil pesto, Portofino makes some similar, equally delightful sauces, like a walnut pesto used for specifically for ravioli and made from walnut, herbs, and cheese. Another local sauce is called salsa verde (not unlike the Argentine Chimichurri sauce), made from parsley and pine nuts and exquisite when used as a topping for beef or veal. Portofino's zuppa di pesce, a peasant fish stew, filled with local fresh fish and a secret mixture of spices, is a popular recipe for experiencing the very fresh local seafood. Fresh mussels are excellent served alla marinara (steamed in parsley, lemon and olive oil), and prawns and crayfish work their way into exquisite recipes at most restaurants. Portofino cuisine is best enjoyed with the local wine, including Sciacchetra, an unusually fragrant wine produced from the vines of Cinque Terre. Another fresh and crisp white wine that pairs wonderfully with seafood is Vermentino. For red wine try the famous Rossese di Dolceacqua, which is noted for its delicate fruit flavors; and an interesting new classified local red is the intense and full bodied Ormesco.
Vacations you may enjoy in Portofino:
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