Sanremo Live Cam

Sanremo is the starting point for excursions on the Riviera with its villages that seem straight out of a storybook. The subtropical park of 16,000 m² with an enchanting flowering in all seasons. The splendid view of the Mediterranean, The halls, the rooms, the suites on the attic floor: the ancient charm of spaces renovated with great refinement. Cooking, an art cultivated with passion. Professionalism in the service. Fiori di Murano restaurant-veranda, piano bar and conference rooms. Swimming pool with heated sea water: Corallina snack-bar restaurant, sauna, solarium. "Il Giardino" restaurant for summer evenings. Tennis, minigolf, fitness room, beauty salon, garage, cabins by the sea, 18-hole Golf Club 5 km. The Royal Hotel is all of this. With that extra bit of charm that made us famous.

Mediterranean coast of Liguria

No great museums or exquisite churches here, just a peaceful fishing civilization that has existed pretty much unchanged for centuries. Get out and walk through the ramshackle streets and stairways, watch the workmen on the beach, linger for a granita di caffè at one of the cafes. Then take the boat (or walk the three-hour trail, marked with blue dots) to San Fruttuoso, an isolated fishing village reached only by sea or on foot. You can visit its recently restored abbey, which has a 13th-century church and a lovely Romanesque cloister. Then hop on the next ferry to Portofino or, if you're in fairly good shape, take the beatiful 2-hour hike instead. A well-marked trail winds around the headland, past countless wild flowers and sweet-smelling herb bushes.

For decades, Portofino was Italy's premiere seaside resort town. There's now a wider choice of favorites, but this tiny multicolored village and its miniature cove are still among the most beautiful spots on earth, and certainly no traveler to Liguria should miss the sight. However, summer crowds can be atrocious, so you may not care to linger in town for a long time. Or walk three miles in the direction of Santa Margherita Ligure, to the beach at Paraggi.

From Rapallo you can take a ferry to the picturesque fishing village of Sestri Levante, which faces onto two bays divided by a narrow strip of houses. Rising above the town is a rocky promontory crowned by the church of San Nicola. Boats leave from here for Monterosso al Mare, a starting point for exploration of the Cinqueterre, or travel farther on to Portovenere, a captivating town on the northern headland of the Bay of La Spezia, where Percy Bysshe Shelley drowned. This area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and its strategic location accounts for its fortified nature, which culminates in the Genoese castle overhanging the very tip of the promontory. Next door, the 13th-century church of San Pietro has many 6th-century elements inside. The 12th-century church of San Lorenzo, above the port, has a romanesque façade. Lord Byron and D.H. Lawrence loved this haunting spot, which is often overlooked by foreign travelers.

Lerici If you have driven to Portovenere, or if you aren't tired of boats yet, take one to the island of Palmaria to see its wonderful blue grotto, or visit the 11th-century abbey on the island of Tino, or Isola Tinetto's 6th-century monastery. Then head south (by boat or car) to the other side of the bay, where you'll find the lively resort town Lerici. It is definitely worth a visit. Afterwards, relax in one of the town's many cafes, watch the boats come in and out, wait for sundown and then get ready to enjoy some of Lerici's fun-filled night life.

If you have time for one more side trip, make it the four-mile drive to Sarzana, a lovely hilltown with two medieval fortresses, a handsome set of 15th-century ramparts and a Renaissance cathedral. San Fruttuoso's Abbazia di Capo di Monte is open 10 - 1 and 2 - 6. In Rapallo, the leper house (Casa di San Lazzaro) is in Via Bana; the cathedral is at Via Filippo Neri 1. Portovenere's castle is open daily with a midday break in summer, and from 2-5 pm in winter.

Ponente means "spot on the horizon where the sun sets," which in northeastern Italy corresponds to the narrow strip of coast and precipitous alpine foothills that you first encounter upon arriving from Monte Carlo or the French Riviera. This part of Liguria is also known as La Riviera dei Fiori (the Flowering Coastline), cut flowers being among its most lucrative exports. The air is alive with the heady scent of some 20,000 tons of roses, carnations and mimosas exported annually. Silvery olive groves or terraced grape vines blanket the hillsides. Whitewashed walls are draped with purple bougainvillea and flaming trumpet flowers. Palm trees shade the broad seaside promenades. Originally brought here from Egypt by St. Ampelio in the fourth century, there were once as many as 20,000 of them in just the half dozen miles from Ventimiglia to Bordighera alone, and it is the latter town that supplies the Vatican with fronds every year on Palm Sunday.

In such a fertile environment it is hardly surprising to find Villa Hanbury, the vast, extravagant gardens that a 19th-century Englishman built just a few miles from the French border. With more than 6000 species of plants, it is now considered one of the most important spots in Europe for the cultivation of exotic plants. If you are traveling in summer, you may wish to use the A10 autostrada for this itinerary, because local traffic can be extremely slow. But if it's any month other than July and August, or if you are a patient sort, we suggest you drive along the Aurelia, one of the ancient Roman consular roads, which skirts the coast and passes through all the elegant resort towns and ancient fishing villages.

Traveling east from Villa Hanbury, take a detour onto the provincial road that follows the Nervia River north about five miles to the picturesque town of Dolceacqua. A lovely arched bridge spans the river at the foot of the small town, which is dominated by the ruins of a 12th-century castle. Stretch your legs for a stroll past colorful pastel houses and a peek at the lovely Romanesque church, then cross back over the bridge to the Gastone restaurant for lunch, accompanied by a glass of rossese, the renowned local wine. Returning to the autostrada, drive three more miles to the noble turn-of-the-century resort town Bordighera. The small medieval quarter is worth a visit, but plan to spend an hour or more strolling along the palm-lined lungomare (seaside promenade), soaking in the Belle Époque atmosphere of the resort, with its large ornate buildings in the art nouveau style (called "Liberty" in Italy).

The next autostrada exit is at San Remo, the famed resort town which springs to life each February for the pop music festival that is about as popular a media event in Italy as the Oscars are in the US. Climb the hill to visit the medieval quarter, a warren of winding streets and staircases nicknamed La Pigna. The houses are protected from earthquakes by adjoining arches and the benevolent protection of the Baroque Nostra Signora della Costa church. Back by the shore, stop in at the Casinò, where you can try your luck at the games or just watch the high rollers from all over Europe and the Middle East.

Now drive two miles east on the Aurelia, to Bussana Vecchia, a medieval village that was leveled by an earthquake about a hundred years ago and is now being carefully restored by a group of artisans. If you have chosen the A10 option, get off next at the Andora exit and continue east on the Aurelia, reveling in the beautiful coastal views of rocky outcrops, sandy coves and broad bays. Alassio is the perfect place for an afternoon dip, with two miles of fine sandy beach (though it's crowded in those nasty months of July and August). Albenga Just beyond it is Albenga, a thriving market town with fifty brick towers and western Liguria's most important early Christian monument, the 5th-century baptistry in the 13th-century cathedral. Behind the church is the charming Piazzetta dei Leoni. Albenga has a trio of museums, one for prehistoric relics, one for naval history and the other for Roman artifacts.

If you like winding mountain roads, spectacular views and friendly villages, drive up the provincial road toward Cisano, then return and continue east to Capo Noli, then on to Finale Ligure to visit the castle, the colorful old quarter of Finalborgo, or the very nice beach. From here to Savona, suspense mounts as the road goes through one tunnel after another, past the old fishing villages of Noli and Spotorno and the world-class golf course at Garlenda. If you're ready for an art museum by now, make it Savona's civic picture gallery, which has a nice collection of 14th- to 18th-century Italian works.

Between Savona and Genoa, the coast is crowded with the kind of industrial activity that always heralds a major harbor, so we'll travel inland from Albisola on the provincial road to Sassello, a lovely hill town with two fine churches. From here, take a deep breath and start off on the small road toward Urbe and Tiglieto. You'll be rewarded with wonderful views across the valleys, close encounters with out-of-the-way villages, perhaps even a glimpse of a wild boar or roe deer. After about thirty miles you'll come to Rossiglione, where you'll want to visit the astoundingly ornate church of Santa Caterina and the lovely Nostra Signora Assunta. Follow route 456 south to Campo Ligure, which has an unusual museum dedicated to the art of metal filigree, as well as a haunting castle. Farther south is the medieval town Masone, where the quaint local museum is dedicated to iron working tools.

At this point, you'll have earned yourself a brief spell on the A26 autostrada, which heads south to Voltri to reconnect with the A10 or the Aurelia. Lovers of regal country villas should stop off in Voltri to see Villa Duchessa di Galliera, then at Pegli for Villa Pallavicini, which has a glorious park complete with artificial lake. Genoa is just two miles away.

Staying in a monastery can be a low-cost, unique way to experience Italy. There are some rules to follow, however. Start the "booking" process well in advance. You can try writing, but telephoning is always more effective (and if you know a priest or bishop, don't hesitate to mention him). Be very clear about what kind of accommodation you will receive: some monasteries have private or even double cells, while others have only dormitory rooms. Ask whether you need to bring your own bedding and towels (Devo portare la biancheria?). Also, find out if there's a set fee or merely a voluntary donation.

Once you are there, remember that you are in a house of God. Assume nothing, as many places have very strict rules about speaking, fraternizing and attending Mass. The best rule of thumb for a convent stay is to approach it as a spiritual experience. If you do, your expectations will not fail you.

Abbazia di Santa Maria della Castagna (Via Romana della Castagna 17, Genova Quarto. Built on the spot where Napoleon imprisoned Pope Pius VII in 1809, this elegant villa is surrounded by a cedar forest about a mile from the sea, just south of Genoa. The 26 monks in residence are Sublacense Benedictines, members of an order that was founded in the nearby monastery of Finalpia. Single and double rooms are available in the convent's guest quarters.

Santuario di Nostra Signora del Monte. There has been a convent on this enchanting spot, overlooking the city and harbor of Genoa, since remote times. The present building was completely restructured in 1655, and is entirely surrounded by a beautiful garden. In the cloisters is a painting of the Last Supper dated 1641. Up to 60 guests can be accommodated in single, double or larger rooms.

Monastero di Santa Croce del Corvo. The older part of this convent amounts to little more than a 14th-century belltower and part of the original apse. However, there is a large 12th-century crucifix in the church, symbol of the Barefoot Carmelite monks' century-old dedication to their faith, and the location is unforgettable. Perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea some 3000 feet below, it has a secluded garden with some of the most spectacular views you could ever hope to see. The well-managed guest quarters have 90 rooms with bath and sea view. July and August are the best months for families, whose children will meet many Italian playmates (minimum stay, 10 days). Book well in advance, as this is one of Italy's most popular religious retreat spots.

Liguria is best known for its major city Genoa La Superba (the Proud), for its most famous sons Cristopher Columbus, Andrea Doria and Pope Julius II, and for pesto. I have a particularly fond memory of the region for two very special reasons of my own. The first is that Genoa continually reminds me of my home town, San Francisco. The only real similarity between the two is that they are both built overlooking their respective bays. The objective similarities stop there. Genoa (like most Ligurian coastal settlements) is perched on the slopes that shoot up from the water's edge while San Francisco gradually ascends from the flat marina area to encroach upon and cover the gentle and not-so-gentle hills that stand at some distance from the water's edge.

Nevertheless, when I am in Genoa, there is something intangible which brings to mind my city by the bay. The other motive of my affection for Liguria is because I once spent an unrepeatably wonderful weekend in the area known as the Cinqueterre (the Five Lands; also spelled Cinque Terre), located just north of La Spezia. Like virtually all Ligurian coastal towns, the Cinqueterre seems to balance precariously on the last fingertips of land jutting out from the continental landmass before it definitively sinks into the sea.

When my two friends and I rendezvoused in Milan (each coming from a separate part of the globe: Rome, Melbourne, Los Angeles), they informed me that instead of driving to Nice as we had previously discussed, "we" (meaning they) had decided to go to the Cinqueterre. Perhaps the element of surprise has influenced my opinion because, although I had heard many good things about the area, I did not really know what to expect. On arriving, I was immediately overwhelmed with the rugged beauty.

There are places to stay in the Cinqueterre suitable for all prices and pocketbooks, but it is probably more practical to sojourn in Levanto, Portovenere or Lerici. Portovenere is at the very tip of the Cinqueterre promontory, reachable by car and just as picturesque. While there, don't forget to visit the port and the castle, whence you'll enjoy a superb view of the Gulf of La Spezia, the Cinqueterre and the islands of Palmaria and Tino. Though not as well known as many of Italy's other regional cuisines, the food along the Ligurian coast is second to none. Seafood, seafood and more seafood, and remember to try the local wines. First and foremost among them is the famous sciacchetrà from the Cinqueterre.

You can park your car in Monterosso or Manarola, but the best way to get to the Cinqueterre is by train (make sure you take the local) or ferry (from Genoa, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Levanto or Portovenere). Purchase a special train ticket that allows you unlimited daily travel between the villages, and since they are only a minute or so apart, you'll probably use it often. When you board the train, try to find out which carriage stops at the platform in your destination. Otherwise you'll have to walk through passageways in the tunnel. The Via dell'Amore was recently reopened after being closed for five years due to a landslide. Another recently restored path is the Sentiero Azzurro. If you'd like to to stay in this area for a few days consider Villanova Country House, Villanova B&B; or Palazzo Fieschi. The Cinqueterre tourist office is in Monterosso al Mare, in Piazza Colombo. Cinqueterre is on the World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites, a program of the World Monuments Fund, issued every other year. The World Monuments Fund is a New York-based non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting endangered works of historic art and architecture around the world.