Gem of the Tigullio, east
gate of a land of enchantment…definitions fail in describing the appeal of
Sestri Levante, a gift for the eye and the soul.
Easily reachable by train or
car, Sestri stands along the most charming of routes: from the west, the via
Aurelia departs in Genoa, traverses the Golfo Paradiso , climbs the Monte did
Portofino through the Ruta and then plunges down to the coast; from the east, a
succession of promontories and sandy coves mark the track from the Golfo dei
Poeti and the Cinque Terre.
Surrounded by
 olive groves,
vineyards and chestnut trees, Sestri Levante welcomes visitors with the magic of
its two bays, whence the name “città dei due mari”: the baia delle Favole to the
west, and the baia del Silenzio to the east, a beach of boats and fishermen
where time has stopped. This lively yet cosy Mediterranean resort boasts an
array of splendid hotels, noble palazzo, scenting gardens, amateur shops - Lord
Byron loved the comforting effect of the place on his restless soul. Hans
Christian Andersen figures among the village fans, too. Nowadays, a children
literature prize entitled to the great fairytale writer takes place in Sestri at
the end of May.
This atmospheric
 seaside
resort (19,000 inhabitants, and IAT tourist information centre) can be explored
along three different itineraries. The first one starts in the centro storico, a
maze of alleys inundated by the breath of the sea (you are in the reign of
anchovies, featuring in tasty “bagnùn”). Close by, in a panoramic postion over
the Baia del Silenzio, the Pinacoteca Pizzi is a remarkable casa-museo
displaying a collection of Italian and Flemish paintings (17th/18th
cent.). The second itinerary is dedicated to the aquatic element: soft beaches,
clear waters, exciting sea sports (aquagym, diving – discover the black coral of
Punta Manara) and environment-friendly stabilimenti balneari compose the best of
medleys. The last itineraries turns its back to the coast and head to the
entroterra: from the Val Petronio (do not miss the santuario of Velva) to the
Val di Vara, the scenic Passo did Cento Croci linking
and Emilia. An area plenty of green, traditions and gastronomy – wine in
Verici, strawberries in Bargone – that completes your coastal stay in the
Tigullio with the pleasure of a 365 days a year exploration.
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