Liguria on Dreaming Italy | Authentic Italian Travel

The Poets' Retreat: A Romantic Guide to Lerici and Tellaro

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:01:57 +0000

There is a curve in the road as you leave the bustling ports of La Spezia behind, a moment when the air suddenly changes. It becomes salt-drenched and scented with the wild rosemary that clings to the limestone cliffs. This is the entrance to the Gulf of Poets, a crescent of coastline so hauntingly beautiful that it drew the likes of Byron, Shelley, and Petrarch to its shores, and as my colleague Luca recently explored in his article about Tellaro, it’s just one of the many reasons why this region is home to some of Italy’s most stunning destinations.

The Ghost Village Reborn: Why Bussana Vecchia is Italy’s Most Rebellious Secret

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:29:40 +0000

I’m Luca, and I’m currently sitting on a sun-baked stone wall overlooking a valley that feels like it belongs to another century. Update: I’ve since written a guide to The Town Carved from Stone: Why Pitigliano is Tuscany’s Best-Kept Secret, where I delve into the charm of this unique town, and if you enjoyed that, you’ll love my other post about Marettimo, the wild secret heart of the Mediterranean, where I reveal another hidden gem that’s sure to captivate your sense of adventure.

Liguria's Secret Trails: Hiking the Path of the Sanctuaries

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:35:20 +0000

Since I wrote this, I’ve had the chance to explore more of Italy’s lesser-known regions, and I’m reminded of the need to venture beyond the coastal paths of the Cinque Terre. While the views from those trails are indeed magnificent, as a local seeker of silence, I see those lower trails as a highway of tourists. To truly experience the real soul of Liguria, you have to look up, to where the mountain air meets the salt spray, a sensation my colleague Marco has beautifully captured in his exploration of Italy’s legendary mountain roads, Driving the Stelvio Pass: Is Italy’s Legendary Mountain Road Worth the Hype?.

Discover Lerici: The Family-Friendly Hidden Gem of the Italian Riviera

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:22:34 +0000

Update: I’ve since written a guide to help families navigate another iconic Italian destination, and if you’re looking for an alternative to the Cinque Terre, you might consider a city like Venice, as I wrote about in my guide to navigating Venice with kids, or explore Camogli: The Authentic Alternative to Cinque Terre You Need to Visit, which my colleague Marco has since updated with a wonderful guide, and can be a great option for those seeking a more relaxed and family-friendly experience.

Camogli: The Authentic Alternative to Cinque Terre You Need to Visit

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:41:11 +0000

While the world flocks to the pastel-colored clusters of the Cinque Terre, those of us who live here head elsewhere. Just a short train ride away from the bustling crowds of Vernazza and Monterosso lies Camogli, a stunning maritime village that captures the soul of the Ligurian coast without the tourist fatigue.

If you are looking for the real Italy—where laundry hangs between narrow alleys and the scent of fresh focaccia defines the morning air—Camogli is your destination.

Beyond the Cinque Terre: Why Tellaro is Italy’s Most Beautiful Secret Village

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:24:49 +0000

Ciao a tutti, I’m Luca.

While the masses are currently elbowing each other for a selfie in Vernazza or waiting in hour-long lines for a train in Monterosso, I’m sitting on a sun-warmed stone ledge with nothing but the sound of the sea, reminiscent of the tranquil scenes I’ve discovered in other Italian towns. In my previous post about Pitigliano, I shared my love for this charming town, and since then, I’ve had the chance to explore its winding streets and discover even more hidden gems. If you’re still searching for your next Italian fix, I highly recommend checking out my comprehensive guide to this Tuscan treasure.

Edible Art: Rediscovering the Ancient Tradition of Corzetti Pasta in Liguria

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 11:55:07 +0000

Ciao! I am Giulia. In my travels across Italy, I am always seeking the stories that are hidden in our kitchens. Everyone knows Liguria for its vibrant green pesto and its delicate focaccia, but if you journey into the steep, terraced hills behind the coast, you will find a pasta that is as much a work of art as it is a meal: the Corzetti.

Corzetti are thin, round medallions of pasta that are hand-stamped with intricate designs. Watching a local artisan or a dedicated nonna at work is like watching a printmaker from the Renaissance. Each disk of dough is pressed between two hand-carved wooden stamps, leaving an embossed design that is both beautiful to look at and functional for holding onto the sauce. It is a tradition that dates back to the middle ages, once used by noble families to display their coats of arms on their dinner plates.