Portofino - Genova
Discover Portofino, one of the best villages of the Italian Riviera.
Portofino is a quaint Ligurian village with ancient origins, as
evidenced by its town center, which retains the orthogonal layout from
the Roman imperial era.
The main thoroughfare, Via Roma, leads towards
the sea. To its right stands the Oratory of Our Lady of the Assumption,
featuring a distinctive slate portal dating back to the 16th century.
Continuing along Via Roma leads to the so-called "Piazzetta," or Piazza
Martiri dell’Olivetta, a vibrant hub filled with shops, boutiques,
restaurants, and gelaterias, all nestled within its arcades.
With one's
back to the Piazzetta, one faces the Church of St. Martin, which dates
to the 12th century; its current appearance is the result of renovations
completed in the late 19th century, although it was originally designed
in the Lombard Romanesque style.
Inside, the wooden group depicting the
Deposition of Christ, crafted by Maragliano, is still preserved.
Dominating the waterfront at Molo Umberto I is the Castle of St. George,
which was expanded in the early 20th century by Baron von Mumm. Its
splendid gardens, arranged in terraced levels descending towards the
sea, house the Museum of the Park, where works by contemporary artists
such as Arnaldo and Giò Pomodoro, Giacomo Manzù, Mimmo Rotella, and
Lucio Fontana can be admired.
The Church of St. George, which holds the
saint's relics, faces the eponymous castle and is situated in a
panoramic location at the base of the Capo promontory.
At the tip of the promontory lies the adaptation of a medieval fortress,
Castle Brown, which serves as the private residence of the British
consul Yeats Brown and still contains original majolica furnishings.
The
fortress overlooks scenic terraces and is frequently chosen as a venue
for exhibitions and cultural events. From the castle, a path leads to a
spectacular promontory protected by a lighthouse that surveys the entire
Gulf of Tigullio.
The main thoroughfare, Via Roma, leads towards the sea. To its right stands the Oratory of Our Lady of the Assumption, featuring a distinctive slate portal dating back to the 16th century. Continuing along Via Roma leads to the so-called "Piazzetta," or Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta, a vibrant hub filled with shops, boutiques, restaurants, and gelaterias, all nestled within its arcades.
With one's back to the Piazzetta, one faces the Church of St. Martin, which dates to the 12th century; its current appearance is the result of renovations completed in the late 19th century, although it was originally designed in the Lombard Romanesque style.
Inside, the wooden group depicting the Deposition of Christ, crafted by Maragliano, is still preserved. Dominating the waterfront at Molo Umberto I is the Castle of St. George, which was expanded in the early 20th century by Baron von Mumm. Its splendid gardens, arranged in terraced levels descending towards the sea, house the Museum of the Park, where works by contemporary artists such as Arnaldo and Giò Pomodoro, Giacomo Manzù, Mimmo Rotella, and Lucio Fontana can be admired.
The Church of St. George, which holds the saint's relics, faces the eponymous castle and is situated in a panoramic location at the base of the Capo promontory. At the tip of the promontory lies the adaptation of a medieval fortress, Castle Brown, which serves as the private residence of the British consul Yeats Brown and still contains original majolica furnishings.
The fortress overlooks scenic terraces and is frequently chosen as a venue for exhibitions and cultural events. From the castle, a path leads to a spectacular promontory protected by a lighthouse that surveys the entire Gulf of Tigullio.
