Italy’s last undiscovered coastal paradise

While the internationally renowned Cinque Terre are spectacular places to visit on the Ligurian coast of Italy, they are overrun with tourists. So much so, that stepping onto a carriage on the train that runs between the villages can feel like a can of sardines. And the more I travel, the more I hate tourists. I know, I know… I am one too but I definitely like the road less travelled.

So, as our last nights stop before Florence, I chose two of the prettiest places in Northern Italy (or all of Italy), conveniently located next to each other…Lerici and Tellaro…perhaps lovelier than the better known Cinque Terre towns nearby…but far less well known and as a result, far less crowded.

Lovely Lerici is a small fishing village located on the Golfo dei Poeti (Gulf of Poets), so called because its beauty enticed the likes of Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley, who had a home near Lerici, and Lord Byron, who also lived in nearby. It has pretty colorful houses overlooking the picturesque harbor, and a magnificent 12th century castle that stands old and forgotten and towers over the town and  bay.

We certainly couldn’t fault the view from our hotel room!

We took a stroll on the colourful seaside promenade, wowed by the breathtaking views – everything makes this place look lovely and adorable. We sat right on the water and sadly ate the worst sandwiches ever made in Italy 😂.

Anne and I decided to take the spectacular coastal walk…

…to one of the prettiest places in Liguria… maybe even Italy and was even voted as one of the most beautiful hamlets…the tiny fishing hamlet of Tellaro (pity about the scaffolding… the bane of a travellers existence),.. …perched on a cliff with pink and orange houses cluttered about narrow lanes and tiny squares.

We meet up with the others for dinner and as the sun sets we just soaked in the beauty of this old village with it beautiful colours and soft golden light.

Once again, we are sad to move on and felt we needed more time to really enjoy this area which is so different to anywhere we have visited in this trip. Like so many small Italian towns it has somehow maintained its essence in the modern age… unpretentious, open, gentle, hospitable- life feels beautiful here…slow moving and full of substance.