Portovenere

The settlement of Portus Venus (Port of Venus) has been famous for its beauty since the time of the Romans. The village of Portovenere is located at the foot of a steep cliff and looks like an ordinary, well-fortified fishing village with rows of brightly painted houses. But, the charm and unique atmosphere of this place rival the beauty of Portofino. Here at the top of the cape flaunts the striped church of the 11th century San Pietro, erected in honor of the heavenly patron of fishermen exactly at the place where, according to legend, the goddess of love Aphrodite appeared in the foam from the blows of sea waves (in the Western tradition Venus). It is from here that the name of this place comes - Porto Venus. In Portovenere today you can walk in a calm atmosphere enjoying the beauty of a charming place with views of the bay. From the portico along the narrow streets, you can take a short walk up to the Romanesque church of San Lorenzo in 1130, as well as look at the castle-fortress of Doria, one of the most influential Genoese families of the XII-XVI centuries. It also includes three small islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. In summer there are regular boats to Cinque Terre and Palmaria. Palmaria is considered the largest island and the only Ligurian archipelago that is separated from the mainland by a narrow channel. The tiny islands of Tino and Tinetto are unvisited because they are in a paramilitary zone.