A detailed guide to every aspect of the destination: history, culture, foods, restaurants, hotels, sightseeing, things to do - written by an author who knows the place intimately. Extracted from our much larger Adventure Guide to the Italian Riviera, this book zeroes in on the Cinqueterre and the Riviera di Levante, including Portofino, Rappalo and dozens of other coastal towns. Pinned between the mountains and the sea, on a steeply-sloped crescent of land stretching from the French border to Tuscany, more than half of Liguria (better known as the Italian Riviera), is protected park land. The inland towns are some of the most interesting in Liguria, both for their history and their gorgeous settings amid the forests, valleys, and peaks of the Apennine Mountains. The hiking here is fantastic. In addition to the major city of Genoa, you ll find the gorgeous coastal cities of Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure, Sestri Levante, and Portovenere, plus enchanting Portofino, a mecca for the beautiful people. The author, who has long spent several months here each year, takes you through every town and region as you explore the Roman ruins, the artists workshops, feudal castles, and the ancient paths that still connect the villages.