Ultimate European Road Trip Series – Part Ten: Sestri Levante / Liguria Italy
The road trip continues from the Lake Garda area of northern Italy to the west coast and the Italian Riviera. Our decision to stay in Sestri Levante, just south of Portofino, came from inspiration after seeing a photo of a beautiful unknown seaside town several years ago, and researching until we found it… here we go!
The mystery town was perfectly situated in the middle of the Italian Riviera and had easy access to major highways, making day trips conveniently easy. To take advantage of the area we booked a stay of 8 nights in an apartment in the center of town.
Road trips anyone?
Portofino/Santa Margherita is 20 miles (42 minutes); Cinque Terra (the number 1 tourist attraction on the Italian Riviera) is 44 miles (1 hour and 13 minutes); The Carrara marble mines are 44 miles (1 hr 40 min); Pisa (that leaning tower thing) is 72 miles (1 hour and 25 minutes); Parma (Home of Prosciutto) is 98 miles (1hr 51mins); Maranello (Ferrari home and related museum) 140 miles (2hrs 40mins)… just to name a few!
First things first: set up base camp
So we booked an 8-night stay through “Homeaway.com” which met our must-have checklist…a good kitchen, at least two bedrooms, and outdoor space with a balcony and in the center of town. .even scored with a drive in a pedestrian only zone. It’s time to park the car in a safe place and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of this laid-back seaside town.
We were within walking distance of the beach (there are two), a variety of restaurants (ranging from sandwiches to gourmet dining), shops, street markets, and even some live music and dancing nights. A surprisingly lively city!
Mangia… Mangia… Mangia… Che Buono Italian Cuisine
The dining part of our trip is important to us, which is why we prefer a vacation rental to keep our dining options open and flexible. Staying in a hotel limits you to dining in a restaurant, which isn’t the worst, but oh, what you’re missing!
Exquisite dining options
There are at least 120 restaurants in the city and we easily rank them using “Yelp”, “TripAdvisor” and “OpenTable”, albeit Italian style. WI-Fi is your friend and we use it every day…how did we survive without it! We selected “Balin Cuisine” for one of our special dining experiences and were well rewarded for our research.
Neighborhood Restaurants
The simple neighborhood restaurant, “La Osteria Mattana” provided us with food for our first night as it was a long day and we were very hungry…nothing fancy, low prices and all exceptional. Travel tip: keep your eyes open for the local crowds and eat where they eat… be spontaneous and enjoy the experience.
Buy prepared food and cook at “home”
You are in Italy and you have the kitchen to cook world famous delicacies… so we start at the pasta shop “Pastifico Moderno” which is ranked by “TripAdvisor” as number 9 among 120 restaurants in Sestri… and not even it’s a restaurant!
They make fresh pasta and sauces daily and townspeople line up to choose from dozens of pasta options and at least 5 different sauces. We learned to order in the morning and return in the late afternoon to pick up our selections (a little local secret).
This is where we buy the BEST pesto EVER…remember this region of Italy, Liguria, is the birthplace of the famous basil sauce. You buy it by weight, take it home, cook it and serve it… in your own place you can even wear loose, comfortable clothes and flip-flops… and also enjoy a lot of wine.
Enter everything and do it yourself
All of this requires a pasta shop, a grocery store, a butcher shop, and of course some good local wine. Italians generally buy their ingredients daily and it becomes part of their daily activity and we emulate their routines… enjoying them is more like that.
Immerse yourself in a small Italian town
As if you really needed any more justifications… how about practicing your “Italian” and communicating with local merchants? After one or two repeat visits, they actually greet you and occasionally add a little taste of something “on the house”.
The warmth of the Italians and the adventure of “living” in the village leaves an indelible and positive mark on your travel memories from the neighborhood bakery, the neighborhood cheese and cold cuts shop, the late afternoon aperitif and the numerous outdoor music venues to name a few.
There are two quiet and colorful beach options to choose from… the Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence) which is the public beach, and the Baia delle Favole (Bay of Fables) which is the main beach in Sestri and has both beaches private. and public areas.
Separating them is a peninsula containing a host of historical sites dating back to the mid-12th century and the “Gran Hotel dei Castelli”. The area is preserved in a park-like setting, with panoramic views, and is definitely worth exploring.
In summary
Strategically located on the Mediterranean Sea, in the middle of the Italian Riviera, is this vibrant and beautiful seaside town. Sestri Levante has a lot to offer… all you need is time to savor the moments.
Follow us in the next article… Excursions to Cinque Terre and Carrara Marble.
After all, what’s the rush… get inspired.
© 2016 Inspired Travel Itineraries with Bob and Janice Kollar