Spotorno
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Spotorno

Spotorno

Ligurian Riviera seaside town with a sandy beach, colourful lanes, and views toward protected Bergeggi Island.

Spotorno is a small seaside town on the Ligurian Riviera di Ponente, wedged between Noli and Bergeggi along one of the most scenic stretches of coast in northwestern Italy. A long sandy beach backed by colourful houses and a handful of narrow lanes make up the old centre, which still feels more Italian than tourist.

The town sits beneath a ruined medieval castle and looks out across the water to the island of Bergeggi, a protected nature reserve. Spotorno draws mostly Italian holidaymakers in summer, which keeps the atmosphere relaxed and the food honest. DH Lawrence stayed here in 1926, writing at the Hotel Ligure while working on Lady Chatterley's Lover.

Neighbouring Noli is one of the best-preserved medieval villages on the coast, and Bergeggi offers good diving around its island.

Guide

Eating Out

Ligurian cuisine is light, fragrant, and almost vegetarian in character, with olive oil and fresh herbs at its heart. Spotorno shares in the coastal cooking traditions of the Ponente, where the flavors of the land and sea have been mixing for centuries.

The region is famous for pesto, the basil sauce that tops trenette and trofie pasta. Ravioli, pansoti stuffed with herbs and greens, and gnocchi are all common first courses. Main dishes lean toward white meats like rabbit and chicken, though wild boar and snails appear on menus too. From the sea, expect sardines, anchovies, and sea bass, along with salt cod and stockfish prepared in dozens of ways.

The oven-baked focaccia di Recco, thin bread layered with soft stracchino cheese, is worth a detour in itself. Pine nuts, walnuts, olives, and mushrooms appear everywhere, and the local extra virgin olive oil ties it all together.

Guide

Getting There

By train: "Ferrovie dello Stato"/ Genova-Ventimiglia railway (Spotorno station).

By car: "A10" motorway (Genova-Ventimiglia): exit Spotorno; S. S. 1 (Aurelia)

Airport: Genoa (GOA) (Cristoforo Colombo Sestri) (Web site: http://www.airport.genova.it) 6km (4 miles) west of the city (travel time – 20 minutes) has duty-free facilities. Buses are available to the city.

Genoa-Spotorno 51Km

Guide

Things to Do

Spotorno is a beach town first and a sightseeing town a distant second. The long sandy beach is the main draw, the ruined castle on the ridge above the centro storico is worth the climb for the view, and the coastal Sentiero del Pellegrino out to the headland is the best walk in the area. Add a boat or kayak trip out to Bergeggi island and you have the place covered in a relaxed two-day visit.

italianriviera