Santa margherita ligure italy. Santa Margherita Ligure. So what is the best resort? Santa Margherita Ligure - a resort town on the Ligurian coast

Santa Margherita Ligure or how we got to the "nursing home" September 16th, 2015

We needed three days, two trains, 4 buses, one plane and one car in order to finally. As I already wrote, Portofino and LSU were not our goal, we were brought here by a chain of promotional tickets. When planning a trip, I thought a lot about where exactly to stay in Liguria, but Santa Margherita initially attracted me at the level of intuition. Yes, and the guidebooks promised a lot of pluses: this is the "land gate" to Portofino (if there is no yacht, then there is no other way), convenient road junction, the most active and party city on the coast.

- Incredible! Tomik, can you believe that we ended up in Portofino??? How could this happen to us?

And so we got off the train and looked at the visible strip of bright blue sea, mountains, bright houses. The girlish imagination immediately began to paint pictures of how we were going down the steps of the station, and Porsches and jaguars stopped in front of us, and male celebrities, straight from the magazine, stretched out their tanned muscular arms and took the signorines (that is, us) to the glamorous depths of the Cote d'Azur. And we are so beautiful, beautiful, in snow-white clothes and with the wind in our hair, and it doesn’t matter that we are wearing backpacks, three-day-old clothes, and our faces are swollen from heat and fatigue. After all, I adore Italy, I love her with all my heart and all my dreams are only about her, and Italy loves me and, judging by previous trips, anything can happen here. My love, Italy, I'm running to you, flying to you!

But with every step, Santa Margarita fascinated and disappointed at the same time. Looks like I'm in heaven, a little turquoise paradise on a postcard. Everything here is toy, bright, beautiful, perfectly clean. Even the houses are painted here. Historic villas, cathedrals, squares, cozy lanes, gardens and restaurants. A beautiful city, just lovely.

And the sea is an insanely beautiful azure sea. And the city seems to be full of people-angels: snow-white clothes, snow-white heads sparkling with silver. They hobble the streets, lie on sun loungers, drink cocktails in cafes, some still holding hands and kissing. Some are already so old, it seems that they came here on purpose to wallow in this dolce vita and die here. In a word, Santa Margherita is a paradise, a paradise for pensioners.

Fragments of phrases from the previously read about LSU flashed through my head: "fun and music", " youth resort"," if you want to find yourself a rich fiance from Milan ... ". At the same time, I remembered last year's vacation in Sorrento full of love, adoration and cries of “Bella! Belissimo!" But here there is no such thing, the North of Italy is clamped in its spiritual impulses and emotions. It remains only to look into the eyes and read the views, or buy train tickets and, without looking back (which I later wanted to do several times).

Then there appeared the first tears and the first hint of hysteria. For three months I denied myself everything and collected money for the trip. For three days I rode iron dogs to see my beloved Italy and recharge my emotions, but in the end I ended up in a nursing home! I once felt similar in Arenal in Mallorca, only then instead of pensioners there were, so we drank for the first 3 days so as not to see the bacchanalia taking place. And now I do not have so much energy and money for drinking. We'll have to go through all this without anesthesia. But how painful! The only good thing was that Italian pensioners are cheerful, active and fashionable. And often we saw such comedic scenes on the streets, as if we were watching an Italian movie come to life. In the end, I even fell in love with them for their sense of style and cheerfulness.

But in other neighboring towns, generally horror. Portofino seems to be dying out at night, even if you walk naked through the streets, and only at 5 in the morning you can meet a lonely millionaire running out of a four-deck yacht, at 6 in the morning - a baker opening a focaccheria, and at 7 - a photographer hung with cameras, catching the rays of dawn. During the day, however, it is very noisy, crowds of tourists run in ... old tourists. And in neighboring Rapallo, you begin to understand that not everyone in the LSU is so old, there is a contingent of "over 80s" and a lot of Russians.

A little later, I realized why LSU is considered the most party resort. He really is the most party on the coast. Every evening some events are held here: concerts, carnivals, fairs. There are really a lot of young people here, only young people under 20 years old. There is practically no middle stratum in this town, except for prominent, beautiful and thoroughbred Milanese who accidentally drove into family summer villas in Portofino and Rapallo.

In general, I considered my vacation completely ruined. I had to look for pleasure in what is. There was something positive about the lack of sleepless nights: finally, we could wake up without pain in the morning to explore the azure coast of Liguria, rich in beauty (for those who are not in the know, it turns into Cote d'Azur France, so if you have the money and time, you can completely go to Nice or Cannes). All, night life finished, let's have fun "in an adult way."

And the second plus was that we could save a lot without moral damage. We were very lucky with the accommodation, it was cheap and cool. It was a studio with a fully equipped kitchen, a balcony overlooking the mountains, near the beaches, the train station, three supermarkets and generally on the main piazza. Therefore, we cooked for ourselves, there was enough time for everything, our eyes ran wide from the choice of products, and there was no desire to sit in a cafe with pensioners. As a result, it turned out that we got much more for less money. For about 12 euros per person per day, we ate delicious things, I tried all the cheeses, prosciuttas, olives, focaccia, fruits, cooked pasta, cannelloni, lasagna, bought freshly caught seafood, drank prosecco and asti martini, and also ate ice cream and profiteroles on top. In Italy, I experienced a real culinary zen. Then later I will write separately about prices, housing and even show receipts.

So the first half of the vacation passed: in the afternoon - focaccia, hiking in the mountains and dolce vita, in the evening - shrimp, prosecco and hysteria.

ps In general, I highly recommend LSU as a base for traveling around Liguria. A very beautiful and comfortable city, most likely we got into a special season. But fate had other plans for us.

(let it be).

The most vivid impression of a vacation in Italy is not Rome, not Genoa, not Pisa, and not even Florence. The most striking impression is the "Italian Riviera". A very strange spirit in those parts. Everything is steeped in history. Hotels and cafes operating since the beginning of the 20th century, palm trees, pine trees, cute restaurants, beaches and rocks. In one restaurant, near the Rapallo station, we were served by an elderly waiter, who looked about 70 years old, and on the wall of the restaurant there were photographs of this cafe and this waiter ... and in the photographs he was about 20-25.

view from hotel room L'Approdo

We were lucky, and pointing a finger at the sky, we stopped at the only modern hotel in those parts. Large windows overlooking the sea. Opposite is the Church of San Michele (Chiesa di San Michele) of 1581. Past the church, two streets led to the beaches - one to the Gulf of San Michele, the second to the Gulf of Prelo (the streets - it's loudly said, rather footpaths on both sides fenced with a high stone fence). The service was excellent, the room was cleaned to the contrary good. It became clear that living in a completely white room can be quite comfortable. free wifi in the room. Sometimes a Russian girl at the reception (this is a rarity in these parts). Everything is clean and very tidy, and no frills.

Usually you arrive at the hotel late in the evening, then you wake up and look ... where you got to. The first morning is the first impression.

Between the bays of Prelo and San Michele, a magnificent footpath runs along the edge of the cliff. It goes from beach to beach. Usually, in the bay of San Michele, the beach is paid, in Prelo it is free, but we were already out of season, and paid beaches were rolled up. Local despite the appeared surplus free beaches out of habit they bathe on the rocks along the footpath.

More than others, the Imperial Hotel stands out. It was in this hotel that the Treaty of Rapallo was concluded (1922)

Hotel L'Approdo.

Most famous place in the area is Portofino. The fishing village has long turned into a small tourist village and today it is one of the most picturesque Mediterranean ports. The population of Portofino is only 521 people. Portofino was founded by the Romans and named Portus Delphini (lat.) - "Port of the Dolphins", due to a large number these animals living in coastal waters. From the 50s.

There really isn't much to do in Portofino. Even wandering along the street will not work, there are almost none there. The town can be seen in just a couple of hours. But the surroundings of Portofino are much larger, interesting and picturesque. Today there is a nature reserve of the same name.

At its core, it is the peninsula of San Lorenzo della Costa, approximately 5 × 5 km in size. From the south, the peninsula is washed by the Tigullian Gulf (Golfo dell Tigullio), where Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino are located. Northern and western coast not populated, for Italy it is a rarity. It is on these shores that a unique reserve is located.

Traveling to Italy on my own allowed me to see the sights of the resort of Santa Margherite Ligure, find out how to get to Portofino, find out where you can eat inexpensively in the center of Santa Margherite; if you want to know more - read the story about the trip to Liguria yourself

I didn’t actually intend to visit the Santa Margherite Ligure resort on my own during a trip to Liguria, my plans for that day included only Rapallo and La Spezia. However, due to the bad weather that hit the north of Italy, I had to reconsider the whole alignment. When it turned out that cruises on the Ligurian Sea were stopped due to a storm, and landslides interrupted traffic along the coastal branch, I did not find anything better than to get out of Rapallo in nearby town OK, I couldn't go anywhere else...

Yes, and in order to get to Santa Margherita Ligure, there was a problem: the driver of the bus ready for departure explained with gestures that he does not sell tickets, they need to be bought at the Rapallo bus station. It turned out that the terminal is so major resort has only one cash desk, where there was a decent queue, and one ticket machine, near which there was also a queue, but not excessive, only three people. It's good that the driver turned out to be an understanding person and although he could well have set off according to the schedule, he still waited until I bought a ticket. A minute later we were already rolling along the streets of Rapallo, and I, gradually warming up, was looking forward to what pictures would open to us on the serpentine that stretches along the coast.

It is worth noting that its public transport neither Santa Margherita Ligure nor Rapallo have, they are connected by a common system of regional routes. Accordingly, if you wish, you can take buses anywhere. Of course, the best way to get to Portofino is by boat by sea, however, land communication cannot be discounted. The views of the coast from the windows of the buses are wonderful, the winding road now and then throws up more and more new landscapes ...

I also note that one-time bus ticket valid for an hour and a half, and during this time it is quite possible to drive from Rapallo to Santa Margherite Ligure, walk there and continue the trip to reach Portofino. You can check the flight schedule on the carrier's website.

The views of Liguria were worthy of the most flattering words, only gloomy thoughts about the future distracted me from their contemplation: the storm did not let up, the rain was still drizzling, the wind also intensified. However, when the bus from Rapallo left for the Santa Margherita Ligure promenade, it turned out that everything was not so bad, at least there was no rain. In this state of affairs, it was quite possible to take a walk around the neighborhood.

Until the middle of the 19th century, on the spot modern resort there was a fishing village, more precisely, several villages. All of them have been at enmity with each other since time immemorial, it is believed that the first "graters" began in the early Middle Ages. When the territory of the Apennine Peninsula fell under the rule of Napoleon, the French authorities, without thinking twice, united individual settlements, no matter what, and although after the end of the era of the Napoleonic wars, local patriots tried to return to their original positions, no one listened to them. The situation finally settled down after Italy gained independence, and the city of Santa Margherita Ligure confidently settled on the map of the new state.

According to official figures, the total number of permanent residents of the resort does not exceed 10 thousand people, but these are crafty numbers: in the summer, tourists flock to Liguria in droves, and at a time when Italian Riviera you can swim, the population of Santa Margherita is growing significantly. The same can be said about the neighboring city of Portofino, which received a separate song. I can only regret that the bad autumn weather in Italy did not allow me to appreciate the beauty of the Ligurian coast.

Well, on the other hand, I thoroughly studied the sights of Santa Margherita Ligure, starting my acquaintance with them by walking along the promenade. It can pass for a landmark in itself, as elegant hotels and mansions line the coast, the slopes of the hills descending to the sea are covered with villas, cafe tables are set here and there, wonderful views of the local nature open from the promenade. The local authorities made their significant contribution to the arrangement of the coast, installing information boards and providing all the sights of Santa Margherita Ligure with explanatory signs. So a walk along the seashore allows you not only to treat yourself to colorful pictures, but also to see several important objects. historical heritage. In a word, walking along the corso Doria, which flows into the corso Marconi, the tourist will certainly get great pleasure: if the Santa Margherita Ligure embankment looked wonderful in cloudy, dank weather, I believe that in the sun its landscapes will be unforgettable.

Among the fashionable buildings that adorn the coastal avenues, several buildings stand out, and the fortress of Santa Margherita Ligure attracts attention in the first place. It was built in the middle of the 16th century, and it was just a fortress designed to protect the city from pirate raids. Hence the harsh appearance of the fortifications, which does not fit with the general peaceful appearance of the resort. The complex of towers and walls is so out of step with the surroundings that some members of the city council were even going to demolish the citadel in order to expand the embankment. In my opinion, it is difficult to think of a dumber move than to get rid of the valuable landmark of Santa Margherita Ligure in favor of another lane. In any case, the fortress remained untouched, and since its observation platforms offer a panorama of the surroundings, do not fail to climb up when you are nearby.

Near one attraction of Santa Margherita Ligure is another, striped church of the Capuchins. It began to be built at the beginning of the 17th century for the needs of the Capuchin monastery, which had just begun to develop its activities in these parts. The work took more than a dozen years, and the building could be considered quite good, if not for its too modest design; moving around Italy, willy-nilly, you get used to the fact that local churches are richly decorated with decor, and here the style seems to be Italian, but the decorations are shish ...

Right there, on corso Guglielmo Marconi, there is another temple. The Church of San Erasmo is not large, and if it were in another place, it is unlikely that she began to enjoy such colossal respect for believers. But since the life of Santa Margherita Ligure for many years was associated with the sea, and Saint Erasmus is considered the patron saint of fishermen and sailors, the latter show him every respect. It is not without reason that they built a church in honor of the heavenly intercessor on the city embankment. And those who manage to get inside will be able to appreciate how richly the altar was decorated by those people who managed to escape from the clutches of hurricanes and return home...

One of those who should have prayed to Saint Erasmus especially fervently was, of course, the famous traveler Christopher Columbus. As you know, he was born in Genoa, and although the navigator did not receive any support for his projects from fellow countrymen, the Genoese diligently cling to his glory; in the capital of Liguria, tourists are reminded of Columbus almost at every step, other cities do not lag behind - there is a monument in Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure also excelled in this regard. The question is, what do these resorts have to do with Columbus, but come on…

The monument with the figure of the discoverer of America recently adorned the embankment of Santa Margherita Ligure, it was created on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the first overseas campaign of Europeans. The outfit and pose of Columbus are traditional for such structures, but the author of the project approached the creation of the pedestal creatively, as a result of which rocks, shells, ships and other marine attributes form the basis of the monument.

In search of the best angle for shooting, I wandered into the adjacent piazza square Vittorio Veneto and eventually ran into a branch of the local tourist office, which occupies a nondescript pavilion. Especially great benefit I did not expect from this meeting, but still I got a map of Santa Margherita Ligure, which became a good help in the walk. I got it about turofis good impression, it seems that the local workers answer the question of the guests even before it is finished - and they will advise on transport how to get to Portofino, and pick up where it is better to stay in Santa Margherita Ligure.

Continuing the hike along the embankment, I gradually made my way to the picturesque port, packed to overflowing with boats and yachts waiting out the bad weather. Taking off the forest of masts, I gradually moved to the side and eventually got out from under the cover of the pier. Then it immediately became clear to me how strong the storm hit the resorts of Liguria: it was blowing so that open space one could hardly walk, and I took photographs of the seething sea at local rocks great multitude.

Together with me, a couple of Germans visited the observation deck, the same lost tourists like me - they also, I suppose, wanted to enjoy the sun, appreciate what it tastes like " the Velvet season" V Northern Italy. Of course, none of us lingered in the wind for a long time, the question of whether it is possible to swim on the coast of Liguria in November was not even raised ...

Impressed by the rampant elements, I returned to the area of Piazza Venezia and considered it good to hide from the wind among the buildings. A successfully obtained map helped me get to such an entertaining sight of Santa Margherita Ligure as the Church of Our Lady. Most big temple The resort was built for almost the entire second half of the 17th century, and even after the official work seemed to be completed, the townspeople did not leave the building alone, constantly altering and rebuilding something. Not otherwise, this is karma: the local Notre Dame was erected on the site of another church, and that one occupied the foundation of even earlier times. So far, the Church of Our Lady looks very good, but perhaps after some time it will be replaced by another building, the renovation process is unlikely to stop, since it has been going on for so many centuries. Then you have to go to see the sights of Santa Margherita Ligure in a new way.

majestic temple adorns Piazza Caprera, it's hard not to notice. So much the better as a guide for those who want to understand what shopping is like in Liguria: on the right is an outstanding store "Seghezzo", where you can buy, in my opinion, any tinctures and liquors. Here the matter is not limited to banal options, because there are no problems with bringing “limoncello” or “chianti” from Italy, bottles are sold everywhere, even in stores, even in duty-free airports. And in this office, colorful labels, which adorn the coats of arms of various regions of Italy, cannot be counted. There are also extraordinary drinks, including Cuban rum and Swiss vodka! That's where you can buy unusual Italian souvenirs ... I also recommend looking at house 19 on via Tommaso Bottaro - go along the embankment anyway, so visit the place. This is another point where you can buy unusual Italian souvenirs. It sells models of fishing schooners and lighthouses, tiny, very stylish, skillfully made houses and other marine paraphernalia. Personally, small chests like sailors came to my heart - 10 euros, and storage for all sorts of little things is ready. And if you want to please the children, it makes sense to buy a bandana with pirate symbols for only 5 euros.

It’s hard to say where else you can buy souvenirs in Santa Margherita Ligure, I didn’t see anything else. The storefronts just crowd the center of the resort, but it's mostly boutiques and clothing stores. The prices are mostly high, I remember, pretty dresses cost about 300-400 euros, for a decent-looking suit, which I noticed on Via Partigiani d "Italia, they asked for no more, no less than 500 euros.

Prices for food in Santa Margherita Ligure, fortunately, were tolerable, though everywhere. For example, I found several nice establishments right next to the embankment. More than others, I liked the Pescatori restaurant, which attracts the eye with bright red and white tablecloths - some of the tables are on the street, eating there is just a joy, in good weather, of course. So, the Pescatori cuisine is mostly fish, although traditional Italian dishes, such as pizza and pasta, are also on the menu. But seafood prevails there, that is, fish different types and squids. The total bill will be approximately 25 euros, if you take a three-course dinner and some drinks.

If you want to find where to eat inexpensively in Santa Margherita Ligure, you need to leave the embankment and go deeper into the neighborhoods. Let's say to gobble up a portion of ice cream overlooking the bay, you need to shell out 4-5 euros, while I can also recall the "Centrale Gelateria" ice cream parlor on Largo Antonio Giusti, whose price is 2.50 euros for 2 scoops. And with the rest of the institutions about the same picture.

Although, judging by the map of the area, the sights of Santa Margherita Ligure had not yet been exhausted, I nevertheless decided to move towards the station, mindful of the landslides that disrupted the traffic schedule on the branch from Genoa; I, of course, wanted to understand if the message resumed. Climbing up the hillside to the railway track, I made acquaintance with the local station, and the meeting frankly disappointed me. It seems like Santa Margherita Ligure is revered as an exquisite resort, not for everyone, here, in Eventually, they go hoping to get to the famous Portofino, and here you are - visitors are met by a shabby building, a real hotbed of homeless people who feel at home. The only thing that pleased me with the Santa Margherita Ligure station was a shop where you can buy beautiful postcards with views of Liguria - it is located next to a cafe, the issue price is 75 euro cents apiece. If a resort guest forgot to buy a keepsake, here it is, the last chance to make the right move.

After some investigation, it turned out that trains were not yet running towards Genoa, but the station chief was sure that the traffic would be opened soon, especially since trains were already running from north to south. Confirmation of these words was the composition, just pulled up to the station. It was foolish to miss the chance to continue the trip along the Italian Riviera, and I jumped into the carriage; what exactly it was from the late trains, I did not manage to find out ...

Before I had time to settle down in a chair, I began to get angry because of the low speed of the train, crawling like a turtle; it took us about 20 minutes to get from Santa Margherita Ligure to Rapallo, although there was nothing to go there. By the way, when we passed the well-known station, from where I left after a fruitless wait, the car was decorated with several faces that had already become familiar to me while sitting on the platform - the poor fellows, obviously, did not get a chance to leave ...

I was also worried that the validity of the ticket for railways Italy is 6 hours from the moment of composting; six hours after leaving Genoa had long expired and, in theory, I could well have been fined at the control, and the size of the fine for a stowaway train in Italian trains is hoo. I consoled myself with the fact that the circumstances are still urgent, and, gosh, half of the passengers have the same problem. And I managed to assess how urgent the circumstances were at the entrance to the resort of Sestri Levante: on the right, in the direction of travel, a pile of dirt interspersed with cars was visible from the window - a landslide that came down from the mountains demolished a decent section of the highway. The picture was complemented by tents with a red cross, a fire engine and a couple of carabinieri cars called to deal with the consequences of the rampant elements.

It only remained to thank fate for the fact that we are still going to La Spezia, and not lying on a slope up the wheels. Although the train was barely crawling, it delivered me to the final destination of the route. It's time to see where the Italian Riviera ends...

Santa Margherita Ligure - resort town V Eastern Liguria, on the Portofino peninsula.

I wrote that if I were now looking for a hotel in Eastern Liguria, I would choose Santa Margherita Ligure. First of all, for the convenience of the location.
Portofino peninsula - at your side, hiking trails start already on the outskirts of the city and in an hour and a half you can walk to Pietri Stretti - the nodal point where they cross. The town of Portofino itself is within walking distance, and the bus is easy to get to. For more remote places- train: one way (30-50 minutes), the other -. By train, an hour's journey to the towns.
And Santa Margherita seemed spacious, open, more lively and relaxed - compared to "our" Rapallo.
If Portofino is a chamber town and as if covered from prying eyes by hills (and in its center hid a tiny “home” bay), then Santa Margherita is all wide open. There are no secluded coves here. From the south (from Portofino) stretches a long strip of public beaches.
The port for tourist ships is fenced off from the beaches by a long pier.

Then begins a wide long embankment - the local promenade. Near the water itself, the narrow high church of St. Erasmus was attached. Next to her, steps go to the left. long stairs running up the hill to the foot of the magnificent baroque church of San Giacomo di Corte.

Church of San Erasmo

Ascent to the Church of San Giacomo di Corte

But we leave the church for later and move further along the embankment. And here is the castle - Antico Castello. It seems that all local castles (except) are made according to the same pattern: small, with cylindrical horn towers at the corners. However, these "kids" served as effective protection against pirates. The local castle was built in 1550, a year earlier than the castle in Rapallo.

Behind the castle stands the church of St. Francis.
Piazza Martiri del Liberty is, in fact, a seaside park with palm trees and benches. And a little away from the sea is one of beautiful squares Santa Margherita Ligure - Piazza Caprera. In the center of it is the wide, beige façade of the Basilica of Saint Margaret of Antioch, or Our Lady of the Rose. In front of the church, multi-colored houses with arches lined the ground floor in a semicircle. Another semicircle is a platform in front of the entrance to the church with a pattern lined with black and white pebbles.

Piazza Martiri della Liberta

Piazza Caprera, facades of houses

pattern in front of the church

Inside the church - the richest decoration. It seems that they are already accustomed to the magnificent luxury of local churches, but in this one, it seems, not a single piece was left in simplicity, even patterns were carved on the columns and gilded.

Interior of the Basilica of Margaret of Antioch

Narrow streets diverge from the square. Having chosen one of them, we soon found ourselves at the gates of the 16th century Durazzo Centurione villa.

One of the streets

Entrance to Villa Durazzo

Immediately after the gate, the ascent to the hill began. Along the hill, among the trees and flower beds, picturesque paths stretched, along them there were benches, fountains, flowerpots, sculptures. And what a magnificent "carpet" - all from the same black and white pebbles - is laid out in front of the entrance to the palace!

Park of Villa Durazzo

Patterns in front of the villa

From the palace, the path leads directly to the church of San Giacomo di Corte, the one we have already seen from the embankment - it stood on top of a hill and a wide staircase led to it. Its interiors are a little more modest than the previous one, calmer, more subdued, but it seemed to me more stylish. The alternation of white columns with low-lying crystal chandeliers between them, the olive twilight of the vaults with a discreet golden canvas converging into a golden glow in the center - one could feel a certain rhythm of this space and leading to the main thing.

Church of San Giacomo di Corte

From the church we went down the stairs to the sea.

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We spent only a couple of hours in this wonderful resort town and, of course, we could not see in detail many of its sights and interesting places, but we managed to get acquainted with the city and feel its atmosphere. Its name sounds romantic - Santa Margherita Ligure, and at the same time it looks very elegant and festive, which immediately captivated you. Santa Margherita Ligure is located 35 km south of Genoa among beautiful sea and mountain landscapes and surrounded by the greenery of Mediterranean vegetation. Along the coast are luxury hotels overlooking the Ligurian Sea.

Until the middle of the 19th century, a fishing village, or rather several villages, was located on the site of the modern resort. Santa Margherita Ligure received its current name in 1863, it was then that two railway stations as well as luxurious villas and hotels. And here we are in Santa Margherita Ligure. The sea, mountains, palm trees, hotels with colorful facades in a classic Mediterranean style, there are very few people on the embankment - what else is needed for happiness! pretty town I immediately liked it, and I wanted to get to know him a little - suddenly I have to come back here.

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On the promenade in a small square there is a fountain with marble monument Columbus pointing to sea spaces. It was installed recently on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the first overseas campaign of Europeans. The outfit and posture of Columbus are traditional, and the base of the monument is made up of rocks, shells, ships and other marine attributes. It is believed that Columbus was a native of Liguria and was born in Genoa.

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And nearby on the embankment stands, as in many Italian cities, a bronze monument to the first king of a united Italy, Victor Emmanuel II. The seaside square, Piazza Martiri della Liberta, is, in fact, a park with palm trees and benches.

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Here, on the pier, there is a statue of St. Margaret of Antioch, the patroness of the city, looking into the sea distance and, as it were, blessing the ships passing by.

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According to official data, total number The permanent residents of the resort do not exceed 10 thousand people, but in the summer, when you can swim on the Italian Riviera, the population of Santa Margherita grows significantly. Restaurants and bars are mainly concentrated in Piazza Martiri della Liberta, opposite the square at the pier, as well as on the promenade and in the port area.

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At coastline The resort is drifted by many yachts, on which rich tourists come here from all over the world. The port of Santa Margherita Ligure has about 350 berths for various sizes of ships and boats.

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Several interesting historical buildings are visible from the embankment, and first of all, the severe view of the fortress of Santa Margherita Ligure attracts attention. It was built in the middle of the 16th century, and it was designed to protect the city from pirates from North Africa. Near this attraction is another, striped church of the Capuchins. It was built at the beginning of the 17th century for the needs of the Capuchin monastery, which at that time was expanding its activities in these parts.

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The baroque church is clearly visible when approaching Santa Margherita Ligure from the sea. It rises above the hotels located on the first line. To the right of it is the park of Villa Durazzo.

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The sea area between Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino is a specially protected area in accordance with the provisions European Union. From the south (from Portofino) stretches a long strip of public beaches. The port for tourist ships is fenced off from the beaches by a long pier.

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There are two types of beaches in Santa Margherita Ligure - private, adjacent to luxury hotels, and public.

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The most popular cafes are located along the embankment, and wonderful views of the sea and mountain scenery. A pleasant promenade under palm trees: on the one hand - beautiful buildings, and on the other - seascapes.

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From the embankment along the pedestrian street we head to the city center.

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How nice it is to take a walk in such a calm relaxing environment - without the accompaniment of crowds of tourists.

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Behind Piazza Martiri della Liberta is market Square Caprera. On it, in a semicircle, there are multi-colored houses with arches along the ground floor.

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Piazza Caprera, facades of houses

Arches, like houses, are painted with intricate patterns.

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Rising in the square Cathedral- Basilica of Saint Margaret of Antioch or Our Lady of the Rose. The facade of the basilica is wide, beige, the dome and the cross are made in the classical Latin style. The basilica was built in 1658 on the ruins of a 13th century church, the bell tower and façade were added in 1750.

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Basilica of Saint Margaret of Antioch