The Poets’ Gulf
The Golfo dei Poeti is located in the part of the coast of Liguria that stretches from Portovenere to Bocca di Magra including great tourist centers such as Le Grazie, Lerici and Tellaro.
Here lived the poets Shelly, Byron and H.d. Lawerence, enchanted by the beauty of this part of Liguria. The most characteristic village of the Golfo dei Poeti is Portovenere, of roman origins as illustrated by the remains of the temple recovered during the restoration of the Chiesa di San Pietro.
In 1139 the Signori di Vezzano surrendered the village to the Genoese and the port became a very important strategic position in the conflict with the near marine Republics of Pisa and for this in 1161 the village was fortified. One of the village’s artistic attractions is the Church of S. Lorenzo inside the village walls. Likewise is the Chiesa di San Pietro –San Pietro’s Church situated on the rocky spur of the Arpaia, completing the fortification for defense and proceeded by a large stone stairway.
Another characteristic village in the Golfo dei Poeti is Lerici dominated by the Genoese castle that some years hosts an interesting Geo-paleontological museum after the finding of dinosaur tracks in the hills around Lerici.
The Islands
L’isola di Palmaria – Palmaria Island is a little paradise that flourishes form the Mediterranean with cliffs that plunge into the sea, grottos and sharp rock-islands rising form sea. The Grotta Azzurra – The Blue Grotto is very striking and can only be reached by boat.
L’Isola Tino – Tino Island is a quarter of a mile from Palmaria and his home to the San Venerio’s ruins. In a building form the 500’s a small archeological museum was prepared, which contains medieval and roman findings.
Tino Island, like the cliff nearby, Tinetto, is a military garrison, thus is not able to be visited, other than the 13th of September, during the San Venerino holiday and the following Sunday.
Useful links
Navigation and ferries in the Golfo dei Poeti: www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it
Information about the Golfo dei Poeti: www.golfo-dei-poeti.it/
