Riviera di Levante Attractions

Chiavari (3m/10ft; pop. 30,000), a seaside resort situated in a fertile plain at the mouth of the Entella. Near the station, at the end of a beautiful avenue of palms, stands the cathedral (1613; pillared portico added 1841). Morning markets are held on the Piazza Mazzini in the town center, dominated by the Palace of Justice (1886); to the rear is the old castellated citadel tower (1537).

Lavagna (5m/17ft; pop. 13,000), a resort with a large yacht harbor (1976). Beyond Lavagna the road runs close to the shore.

From La Baracca a scenic road (S.S. 332) winds its way down (15km/9mi south), mostly through pine forests, to the little town, frequented by visitors both in summer and in winter, of Levanto (11m/36ft), with remains of its medieval town walls and castle. The former oratorium near the church of Sant'Andrea now houses a local museum (Museo Permanente della Cultura Materiale). The Torre dell'Orologio (clock-tower) is the only one of the original seven towers of the medieval town-wall to have survived.

Nervi (27m/89ft), the oldest winter resort (rocky beach) on the Riviera di Levante, in a sheltered situation amid olive-, orange- and lemon-groves, with a seafront promenade 1.8km/1mile long hewn from the rock. On the east side of the Viale delle Palme lies the Parco Municipale, with many exotic plants and the Galleria d'Arte Moderna (closed Mondays). To the east, in a beautiful park in Sant'Ilario Basso, is the Museo di Ville Luxoro (closed on Mondays), with applied art, pictures and furniture.

Passo del Bracco (615m/2,030ft). On an isolated crag by the roadside is the small aerial of the Savona television station (view).

Passo della Foce (241m/795ft), with views of the bay of La Spezia and the Apulian Alps.

Quinto al Mare (20m/66ft) is a suburb of Genoa surrounded by orange-groves and palms, with fine villas and the Aquarium der Lega Navale Italiana (underwater flora and fauna of Liguria). To the northeast is Monte Moro (fort; 412m/1,352ft) with wonderful views, especially early in the day.

11km/7mi beyond Nervi is Recco (5m/17ft; pop. 11,000), from which there is an attractive detour to Uscio (361m/1,191ft), 11km/7mi north. From Uscio it is possible to return to Genoa-Apparizione on a beautiful panoramic road (20km/12mi).

Ruta (290m/957ft) is a straggling villa suburb on the saddle between the coastal hills and the Portofino promontory, projecting squarely into the sea from some 4-5km/2.5-3mi. It has scenery which is among the finest on the Riviera.

Zoagli (30m/99ft), with many villas on the slopes of the hillside and a panoramic road to Sant'Ambrogio (3km/2mi).