One of the Italian Riveria’s gems is the old town of Porto Maurizio. We stumbled across this humble Ligurian fishing village in northern Italy by accident, and we’re so glad we did.
High on the hill looking over the gulf of Imperia is the old town of Porto Maurizio Liguria. Spectacular views can be experienced as you head up the hill to the old city walls. Beautiful streets many with potted plants greeeted us, as we wandered under the arched alleyways and down the narrow laneways.
We love the ‘old town’ centres in Italy, as they all have such character and Porto Maurizio is no exception. Wandering about in the early afternoon as we often do, the streets are deserted, as Italian’s are having their siesta time. One of the most frustrating things travellers in Italy forget, is the long rest period in the middle of the day. In Liguria they call it riposi or la pausa, which means to rest, pausa to pause or take a break. And that’s what you need to do too, take their lead and have a long lunch.
It’s an easy drive to the Italian Riveria from Turin or Milan. Head to the port of Genoa, then follow the coastal road towards San Remo. There are so many appealing villages along the way to stop at. If nothing else, you’re sure to find a great coffee or have a fabulous lunch, you are in Italy after all!
Our local tip
We can recommend I Sognatori Lago Varese 16, Imperia for lunch. Nothing compares to sitting outside under the umbrella, with a view of the sea eating Italian food. We ate regional Ligurian dishes of la panissa – chickpea flour chunky chips – followed by spaghetti vongole fresh from the sea, bellissimo!
Location
Interested in holidaying in Liguria? Read about our stay in Final Ligure.
