Liguria: Coastal Trails, Cultural Heritage and Regional Cuisine

Coastal Towns, Islands and Cultural Heritage

In Porto Venere, Doria Castle shapes the town’s coastal skyline. Remains of former monastic complexes can be found on the islands of the archipelago. Together with the Cinque Terre, the town is part of a UNESCO cultural landscape on the coast, where historic towns and terraces document the continuous history of human settlement over the past millennium.

Genoa also offers a distinctive way to explore the region’s cultural history: the Palazzi dei Rolli have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006. In Savona, the focus is on craftsmanship and everyday history. The Museo della Ceramica displays a complete pharmacy collection with seven traditional types of containers. At MUSA, the museum education service organizes workshops and courses; the programme may vary.

Hiking Trails and Landscapes

The Cinque Terre National Park has more than 120 kilometres of trails and seven themed routes across its entire area. One circular route there follows high-altitude trails with sea views and passes Jurassic rocks, old lemon groves and flowers. If you are interested in the accessibility of individual trails: four routes starting from Colle del Telegrafo can be completed in their entirety by people with disabilities. Check the equipment and arrangements before your trip.

A longer route through Liguria is the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri. It stretches for 422 kilometres from Ventimiglia to Ceparana and can be travelled on foot, on horseback or by bicycle. Red-and-white markings with the initials AV mark the route throughout. The two hiking options therefore differ mainly in scope: the national park’s trail network explores its area, while the Alta Via crosses Liguria along a long-distance route.

For a different landscape, visit the Cascate dell’Arroscia between Mendatica and Montegrosso Pian Latte. A series of waterfalls forms there, the highest reaching more than 20 metres. The Sentiero degli Alpini runs through the Parco Naturale Regionale delle Alpi Liguri. Liguria has one national park and nine regional nature parks in total.

Genoa: Sea, Museums and a Train Journey

Genoa’s Porto Antico is home to museums, the Acquario, the Bigo and the Nave Italia. At the Acquario di Genova’s Padiglione Cetacei, bottlenose dolphins can be observed both from the water’s surface and from underwater. Official exhibition figures dated 25 August 2026 list around 10,000 specimens from 400 species from the world’s seas; collection figures may change.

Whale-watching tours with biologists and experienced guides depart regularly from Porto Antico. Departures and timetables may vary. Another journey takes you on the narrow-gauge Trenino di Casella from central Genoa into the mountains behind the city in less than an hour; here too, timetables may vary. The Trenino di Casella’s Museo diffuso extends over 24 kilometres and is located at the new Crocetta d’Orero station.

Regional Cuisine and Unique Nature Experiences

Liguria’s culinary products include Genovese basil D.O.P. In Savona and between the Albissole, Farinata bianca is made with wheat flour. The IGP production area for Focaccia di Recco includes Recco, Sori, Avegno and Camogli. Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà is made from Bosco, Albarola and Vermentino grapes; they are dried for at least two months on special mats. These examples showcase a variety of regional specialities without reducing them to a single place or shared production tradition.

A closer look at nature can also be combined with practical information: the sensory trail in the Giardini Botanici Hanbury is about 461 metres long and features five tactile panels with text in Italian, English and Braille. Check trail conditions and accessibility before your visit. In Liguria, alongside coastal trails and historic settlements, nature experiences, museums and local products offer a range of different focuses to consider when planning your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: La Spezia, Genoa, Imperia, Savona, Aosta Valley, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany.

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