Liguria, Portovenere and the Cinque Terre

Portovenere is an ancient Genoese village of extraordinary charm, from the ramparts of its crenellated walls to the Arpaia grotto in memory of the poet Byron... At the Cinque Terre you get the surprise of mountains that touch the sea, picturesque villages rising in bright colours, perched on the cliffs: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare, partly linked by walkable trails (the famous "Via dell'Amore" that joins Riomaggiore and Manarola). It's difficult to arrive by car; a small tip: there's a large car park at Monterosso and the connections are very convenient both by ferry and by train!!