Portofino: The Most Beautiful Seaside Town In The World

Portofino is one of those places that seems to be a magnet for the rich, famous and beautiful. Situated on the Italian Riviera, this picturesque seaside village has lots to offer, aside from a bit of potential star-gazing. Once you have found the perfect holiday rental in Liguria, make your way to Portofino and begin exploring its pretty streets, yacht-filled harbour, lush hotel bars, designer shops, churches, castle and underwater statue. Not only is this the perfect place to sit back, relax, luxuriate and forget all about the outside world, there are also countless things to see, do, taste, learn and experience. While it may not be the cheapest destination known to man, it has to be one of the best.

The village is small but charmingly formed, crescent-shaped and perched on its own peninsula, only heightening the feeling of exclusivity that is apparent in the town. The harbour is filled with proud-looking yachts and little fishing vessels, all bobbing on crystalline green waters so clear that the variety of aquatic life below the surface is readily visible. Here you'll find restaurants serving seafood that is so fresh it's almost still alive and drinks to be sipped at while you watch the sun dip below the sea. Further inland, you'll see the myriad of brightly coloured buildings, housing designer shops, stores selling local goods and cafés. Along the skyline, the bell-towers of the churches of St Martin and St George and the Gothic Oratory of St Mary of the Assumption peek out with the 16th century Castle Brown sitting atop it all, overlooking the village.

In fact, it is such a pretty village and conforms so closely to the typical idea of a Mediterranean town that it is reproduced in Florida's Universal Resort in Orlando and at the Tokyo Disney Sea in Chiba, Japan. The sense of glamour here is such that Portofino became le monde ou l'on s'amuse, out-doing the much larger and more touristy St Tropez. Giorgio Armani, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana all have holiday homes in the area and Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher honeymooned here.

When it comes to activities, there is no shortage of possibilities from which to choose. You can go swimming or try out a whole range of watersports in the sea or rent a boat for the day, if you really want to push the boat out. If you're interested in history, you can explore the castles and churches. For those in need of a little retail therapy, they need look no further with some of the best brands located here in smaller, more intimate boutiques. Of course, you're also covered if you are looking to try out the local cuisine with plenty of fantastic restaurants to choose from.

For those looking for luxury, glamour and beauty, Portofino is the spot in Liguria that has it all.