The Italian Riviera: Places to Explore

Lerici

Near Liguria's border with Tuscany, this colorful village dates to the 1200s. It is set on a magnificent coastline of gray cliffs and surrounded by a national park of pine forests and olive trees. The waterfront piazza is filled with deceiving trompe l'oeil frescoes, and seaside cafés line its charming little harbor that holds boats of all sizes.

There are several white beaches and bathing establishments dotting the 2-km (1-mi) walk along the bay from the village center to nearby San Terenzo. It was here that the writer and poet Percy Shelley spent some of his happiest days. After his death in 1822, the bay was renamed the Golfo dei Poeti (Gulf of Poets) in his and Lord Byron's honor.

With its proximity to the autostrada, Lerici makes a great base for exploring not only the more famous attractions of the area but also the tiny hill towns and walled villages that dot the hinterlands.

Lerici at a Glance

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