Explore Liguria

Liguria, bordered by Piedmont to the north, Tuscany to the south, and Monaco and France to its west, is often overshadowed by its better known and bigger neighbors.

Italy's 3rd smallest region, it has nonetheless long had outsize influence both domestically and internationally. The city of Genova and the Genoese Republic, once a mighty seafaring city state and practically an empire all of its own, conquered and colonized coastal strips of Italy and distant areas all around the Mediterranean.

Today's Liguria is a prosperous region best known for the so-called "Italian Riviera" that includes the towns of the Cinque Terre and the elite port town of Portofino. Its capital city, Genova, is one of Italy's most atmospheric - a classic port city that is equal parts grandiose and faded glory. Its people are fiercely proud and they guard their cuisine, their dialect, and their natural treasures with zeal.