portovenere

Lionsanne

We came by boat from Manarola - and when we saw the city, we were completely stunned and speechless... Very charming village, different from the other Cinque Terre spots - we had a fantastic day there and we will be back :-)

xtos

Jaw dropping scenery surrounding this jewel of a town with so many great cafes and restaurants along small cobblestone streets. The boardwalk along the harbor is also beautiful. The locals are so warm and friendly and, like most of Italy, there is a lot of amazing architecture and artwork all around. One of the best towns in the Cinqueterre region, if not the best.

eggbuilder

Compact little town maritime town with colourful buildings, marina, interesting history ; classical and literary associations.Venus, Byron and wonderful sea food and Vermentino wine.

765beatrizm

Really beautiful, it's more quiet than the other villages in Cinque Terre (and with less hills!) and parking is for free (at least out of season). All of this makes it the best village away from the tourist crowds.

294JulieL

We were on Group tour that only had a couple of hours at Portovenere. We particularly liked:1 Lovely picturesque scenery as you dock and as you walk up to the Church;2. Entrance to the medieval town with its arch from which the town could be defended with hot oils, water being poured on the intended invaders. Also outside the entrance are the measures (some look like a stone through) whereby the quantity of products being bought and sold could be assessed.3 As you walk the cobbled streets in the walled city, you should note the size of the colourful houses particularly those on your left. These face the sea and are very much sought after. The width of some properties is so small. In particular, number 55 is only as wide as a doorway. One wonders how this could indeed be a dwelling. Portovenere is a lovely place to stroll and wander.

BernardoCarneiro

This has been so far one of the greatest cities I've been to. Perfect for couples, particularly in honeymoons, the city offers spectacular views, great italian food, beautiful walking paths, etc. I strongly recommend at least a three days staying, so you can take boat trips to Cinqueterre (there is no train line from Portovenere to Riomaggiore, the first of the "five lands"). Not less important, try avoiding the winter and the period between October and April. Instead of warm sunny days and quiet sea/beaches, you would find windy, storms and heavy rain.

Brimton

Just as beautiful as Cinque de Terre but less crowded. it has two churches and the fort. Plenty to do and ferry within an easy walking distance.

648casey

Beautiful natural settings, easy to reach the villages by boat, weather permitting, but best to stay in Portovenere, not so isolated

nevdalli

There is a nice walk by the sea. There is also a pedestrian area and alot of restaurants. Seafood is very famous. Pay attention for the prices because some restaurants are expensive and they give you a very small portion. In all the place is very nice and you can go with boat trip too.

IrishAustralianSusan

Our airbnb host recommended we check out Portovenere while we were in town to explore Cinqueterre. He was so right, we actually went twice. It's just as pretty as the towns in Cinqueterre and a bit closer, 12kms from La Spezia so we drove and parking was easy and cheap. The climb up to the church for the views of the sea and to visit Bryons Grotto were worth it. We didn't climb up to the castle though. Wandering through the tiny streets was a transportation in time and while its touristy, you can still find shops the locals use. We ate awesome focaccia on the church wall in the sun and bought some fab pesto for dinner. Plenty of bars of varying standard to try and the gelato was super too. The harbour on the way is worth the detour as some of the old & new wooden sailing boats are so romantic and picturesque.

SkyFlies

Easiest way to access Cinque Terre: drive to Portovenere and stay in one of their lovely hotels. Take the ferry or hike to towns in Cinque Terre but don't miss Portovenere. Beautiful views, great sunsets. Very romantic.

busyflying

This lovely town is big enough to offer things to do and places to go, it is small enough to have an intimate vibe.

suekansas1

We stayed in this charming little town with a tour group that had Cinque Terre has its main destination. It is such a picturesque town and it is built right along the waters edge. We walked up to The Church of San Pietro which sits on the tip of Portovenere's promontory. Another lovely old church sits directly behind the buildings that line the water's edge. Of course it is up, up and up some more. A castle overlooks the town. Loved the town.

Yusimchik

The Charming place. Very nice to spend time in Portovenere,two-three hours.to walking on Promenade,to drink coffee in numerous cafe,to take ferry or to inspect old ruins of small Italian cityPortovenere is very suitable for romantic walking.

Jock254

Nice little harbour side town with an abundance of fish on the menus. Charming and I suspect very busy in peak season. Worth a look in for a day trip and a meal but head to the back street instead of the promenade for food as they are local establishments are are cheaper and better food.