Portofino, made famous in several films, including the Michael Caine film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, is a draw for the jetset.  It is one of Liguria’s most exclusive seaside resorts, situated east of Genoa.

The harbour is full of elegant yachts and the yellow and orange houses that ring the water make the setting perfect.  Hollywood stars such as Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor and Greta Garbo have stayed here, scriptwriters wrote here, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor honeymooned here and you never know who you might spot hiding behind their sunglasses or taking a trip on their yacht.  Private villas, home to celebrities, are situated in the hills behind the town.

There are plenty of flights to the area and you can take a bus or train from Santa Margherita.  Be sure to see the five villages of Cinque Terra, see the views from the lighthouse, take a boat trip out into the waters or visit the eleventh century Abbazia di San Fruttuoso in the middle of the olive groves and pine trees.

Out in the sea, there is a bronze statue of Christ.  The statue was put on the seabed back in 1954 to protect sailors.  You can either take a boat trip out to see it or for a really close look you can go for a dive nearby.  There are plenty of boutiques in the town and cafes to sit and sip a cappuccino whilst you soak up the relaxing atmosphere.