Your property in East Liguria
International buyers can indulge in scenic coastline views or secluded rural villages when it comes to choosing property in East Liguria.
The northern Italian region offers stylish urban apartments in places such as its capital, Genoa, and smaller towns or villages like Rapallo, Arenzano and Portofino, all of which exude Italian Riviera charm and often boast commanding sea views.
Inland, larger villas and farmhouses often offer the option of parcels of land, sometimes with olive groves or vines on.
Inside East Liguria
East Liguria is perfectly placed, surrounded by the Italian Alps and Apennine mountains to the north, and Tuscany to the east, with 315 kilometres of coastline along the Ligurian Sea across the wider region’s southern border.
Its rich maritime heritage is visible in its endless number of picturesque towns and villages that hug the Italian Riviera, while away from the coast, it offers a rural idyll perfect for those seeking to get away from it all in the great outdoors.
East Liguria is rich in ancient monuments, with plenty of museums and galleries helping to chart its past but many of the coastal destinations also offer the choice of lavish or low-key glamour, with excellent restaurants, bars and cultural events to explore.
Landscape
Classic images of cliff-top coastal roads passing through dreamy fishing villages typify East Liguria, with the popular Portofino, Sestri Levante and Rapallo among the popular places to live.
The area’s steep topography means hills and mountains soon emerge a short distance from its coastline, making the area perfect for those who like mixing a laid-back beach-focused lifestyle with the ability to escape into the wilderness in Liguria’s numerous nature parks, such as Cinque Terre National Park.
Liguria’s fantastic countryside also includes more gentle terrain, with rolling hills full of olive groves, vines or fruit, spread out across the region.
Education
Genoa hosts the region’s main international schools, including the International School of Genoa and the Deledda International School.
In terms of further education, the University of Genoa, one of the biggest institutions in northern Italy, is among the top 15 institutions in the country, with campuses in Genoa, Savona, Imperia and La Spezia.
Activities and Entertainment
Wandering through the extensive old city of Genoa, Italy’s largest seaport, or exploring the winding, cobbled streets of smaller towns and villages across the Italian Riviera can provide endless entertainment thanks to the huge numbers of historical sites, shops and markets to visit.
Whether it’s a Genoan palace, like the Unesco-listed Palazzi dei Rolli, a Benedectine abbey such as San Fruttuoso’s, or a breathtaking church, like Chiesa di San Pietro perched atop a rocky outcrop in Porto Venere, the region’s architecture is some of the country’s most stunning.
Numerous viewpoints, including Grotta di Byron in Cinque Terre, where the poet Lord Byron once swam to from Lerici, are exceptional spots for taking in the natural coastal beauty, which includes the area’s beaches that are havens for water sports. Inland, its natural parks are excellent examples of true wilderness, and the Alps are accessible for skiing and other snow sports.
Arts and Culture
Liguria has a vibrant cultural scene with its capital Genoa packed with museums and galleries, including the Musei di Strata Nuova that houses the city’s finest collection of work by famous artists, while the area’s smaller towns also have plenty of cultural destinations to explore, including the Wolfsoniana in Nervi.
A host of large, international events are held in the region with many taking place in Genoa. The city hosts its international violin competition Premio Paganini, named after its renowned former resident Niccolò Paganini, the Parole Spalancante international poetry festival, and one of the world’s biggest boat shows, Salone Nautico Internazionale, among its busy events calendar. Elsewhere, celebrations of food and drink, such as Sagra del Pesce in Camogli, are common in the region.
Sport is a particularly important part of Ligurian culture, with Genoa CFC competing in the top tier of Italian football, Serie A. The challenging terrain makes it a haven for running - with the Sciacchetrail taking in the hills of Cinque Terre and five other nearby villages - and cycling, with the Cycling Riviera running 24 kilometres between San Lornzo al Mare and Ospedeletti.
Food and Drink
East Liguria is one of Italy’s most abundant producers of fresh, local produce with many of its ingredients widely recognised as the best in Italy.
As the birthplace of pesto, several pastas including the common ravioli through to the rare mandili de saea, and focaccia Genovese, not to mention its stunning selection of seafood, vegetables and small-scale farmed meat, the area’s restaurants will satisfy all tastes.
As Liguria is Italy’s second smallest wine region, very little leaves its borders, making it a real treat for wine aficionados. The area’s steep slopes make for a challenging growing landscape compared to other regions, meaning most wine is produced by small artisan wineries using indigenous Vermentino and Pigato white grapes and red Rossese grapes.
Accessibility
The region’s main international airport is Aeroporto Christopher Colombo in Genoa, while Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is just 55 kilometres away from Sanremo in western Liguria.
Traversing the region is made easy thanks to the main E80 motorway that traces the coastline throughout the entire Liguria region, while a train link also follows a similar route.
High-speed services currently serve Genoa from Rome – a near 400-mile journey that can be done in just over 4 hours 30 minutes, however, work is set to be completed in 2023 of a high-speed rail link between Genoa and Tortona, near Milan providing rapid travel north.