Portovenere

A day in Portovenere

To travel to Portovenere from the Mare Monti campground you can either take the train to La Spezia and continue by bus to Portovenere or drive, preferably using the highway with an exit at La Spezia from where you follow the signs to Portovenere.

On the way you will pass by the port of La Spezia which you will also see from above.

When you reach your destination you can either park in the large parking lot above the city and take the shuttle bus to the center or drive down and look for a paid parking space.

In the town you can stroll along the picturesque promenade, visit the Portovenere Castle, Byron’s Grotto, and the Church of St. Peter, built on the ruins of the temple of the goddess Venus who gave the town its name.

By ferry it is possible to visit the three islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto.
With its many free beaches and nature trails climbing up the hill, Palmaria Island is definitely not to be missed; it is possible to reach the Blue Grotto by rowing boat.

A visit to Portovenere can take an entire day divided between sightseeing, walking the trails, swimming in the sea and sunbathing, or only part of the day allowing for a quick visit to nearby Lerici, where I recommend an evening stop on the scenic road leading to the town and a visit to the nearby seaside resort of Le Grazie.