My Mother's Journey on the Blockchain #13: Portofino, Italy

The ravishing village overlooking the vast blue sea, this is Portofino.

My Mom’s inspiration to visit different places usually came from movies or recorded concerts she watched. Portofino was no different. She was inspired by Andrea Bocelli’s concert in Portofino in 2013.

My Mom took a bus from Santa Margherita Ligure, which was the nearest seaside town to Portofino. The short 20-minute drive was pleasing. However, the best way to explore the beautiful route of the Italian Riviera is via the seaside walk.

Portofino is a small charming fishing village on the Italian Riviera coastline, southeast of Genoa city.

Park at Portofino

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The pretty Piazzetta by the harbour is lined with pastel-coloured houses, cafés and restaurants. The brightly-coloured houses are stacked close to one another. There is a nice park near the harbour too. It is a lovely place to relax with a drink and watch the luxurious yachts and small fishing boats go in and out of the port.

Piazzetta is lined with pastel-coloured houses

Lovely café

Restaurant

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Each restaurant serves their own unique versions of the regional recipe, from Italian "comfort food" to fine dining.

Luxurious yachts and small fishing boats

General store

Expensive boutiques

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Wandering along the waterfront and the lanes, my Mom was very surprised that in such a small village there were expensive boutiques, jewellery stores and art galleries apart from souvenir shops and general stores.

Jewellery store

Art gallery

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The path upwards from the Piazzetta was the busiest street, with a range of shops and lovely houses. Up a series of steps, she came to the Church of St. George, a church with a cool, plain interior, dramatically situated on the narrow neck of the Portofino headland. There were benches to sit on, and some great photo-opportunities looking back down over the harbour.

Uphill path from the Piazzetta

House with lovely window

House with bright red window

Neatly hung clothes acted like street art. My Mom loved the colour arrangement

Continuing onwards, she reached Castello Brown, a 16th-century fortress and museum with art exhibitions and panoramic views of the town and the Ligurian Sea. Castello Brown was exclusively available for private events too.

Beautiful Castello Brown

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The walk headed on to the tip of the promontory. A little terrace provided a nice spot for snacking and overlooking the turquoise Mediterranean.

Though Portofino was a small village, but it was a perfect place to unwind. Walked around the small commune, heard the sea, took a rest with a glass of wine seated less than one meter from the sea. That’s what my Mom called sweet vacation.