From Camogli to San Fruttuoso

Camogli

Camogli, 25km east of Genoa, is most famous for its sheer number of trompe l’œil villas, its photogenic terraced streets winding down to a perfect cove of pebble beach amid a backdrop of umbrella pines and olive groves.

San Fruttuoso

The abbey was rebuilt in the mid-13th century with the assistance of the Doria family. It fell into decay with the decline of the religious community; by the 19th century it was divided into small living quarters. Today it has a calm simplicity and its charming everyday collection of ancient monkish things feels touchingly close and human.

Portofino

Even the trees are handsome in Portofino, a small but perfectly coiffured coastal village that sits on its own peninsula, seemingly upping the exclusivity factor by mere geography.