Portofino, Italy: Half-Moon Shaped Playground Of Rich And Famous

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Portofino is one of the prime magnets of the Cinque Terre coastal region in the northwestern part of Italy. You see it on many postcards from Italy – it’s that colorful, tiny seaside town, with disproportionately oversize yachts docked next to old, picture-perfect fishermen boats! It is a half-moon shaped, picturesque seaside village, which is the resort of the rich and famous.

It is situated on a peninsula in the Tigullian Gulf, on the east of Genoa in Liguria region.

It’s been made famous by celebrities who flock here, and the history of aristocrats who built their residences in this tiny port from a fairy tale.

It’s a part of the Italian Riviera, an old, charming resort, with a castle looking down at the village from the hill top – the view that’s a treat for the eyes!

The colorful houses of Portofino

A Little Bit Of History

Romans founded this port town and they named it Port of the Dolphin, because large number of dolphins that inhabited the Tigullian Gulf.

Marina of Portofino

It became a part of the Republic of Genoa after 1229. Charles VI of France sold it to the Republic of Florence in 1409, and in 1815 it became a part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Finally, it was taken into the Unified Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

Bay of Portofino

Portofino is a shopper’s haven and most of the shops are located along the half-moon shaped harbor, and you can find artifacts made by local artisans and high-end designer boutiques.