Sestri Levante is a small Ligurian town on a narrow peninsula, roughly halfway between Genoa and La Spezia. While the Cinque Terre and Portofino get most of the attention on this stretch of coast, Sestri has become a favourite with Italians who want the same beauty with slightly less tourist pressure — though on summer weekends the narrow streets fill quickly.
The peninsula has two bays. The Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence) on the northwest side is the more atmospheric — a crescent of calm water backed by pastel-coloured houses with no through traffic, the boats pulled up on the sand. The Baia delle Favole (Bay of Fairy Tales) faces south and is larger and livelier, with a longer beach and more beach facilities. The name of the Baia delle Favole comes from Hans Christian Andersen, who stayed in Sestri Levante and reportedly named the bay himself.
The old town on the peninsula is genuinely charming, with medieval churches — the 12th-century Chiesa di San Niccolò being the most significant — narrow caruggi (alleyways), and good food shops specialising in Ligurian products. The Marconi Tower at the peninsula's high point gives a panoramic view that extends to the Alps on clear days. The coastal walk to Punta Manara is the best short excursion from town.