Portovenere and Palmaria
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Although Portovenere is small, it’s not without its places of interest. It abounds in historical buildings which transmit the atmosphere of past ages and what’s more you can see it in half a day!
Portovenere cannot be reached by train, so it is better to go there by boat from the Cinque Terre. This little sea trip will cost from a minimum of 8 euro to a maximum of 41 (more information on boat trips on the page “How to get around”).
Portovenere is a very colorful and interesting village. If you wish to go there, take a look at the site dedicated entirely to it: more information about Portovenere at the address: www.portovenere.a-turist.com
Places of interest in Portovenere and Palmaria
Open this page from your mobile phone and you can start the navigator for any point of interest or monument described here.
The gates to the village, the main street and the waterfront
There are two main streets in this village (marked on the map) and you can walk down them and see Portovenere in half an hour. In one of them, Via Capellini, you will find the gates to the village and a large variety of bars and cafes. It’s worthwhile stopping here even just for a cup of coffee as you enjoy the view of the colored houses of Portovenere and the gulf with the island of Palmaria in the background.
The churches of San Pietro and San Lorenzo
Both churches were erected in the XII century. The church of San Pietro is located in the center of Portovenere and is now in excellent condition following its restoration. The first building to welcome tourists arriving by boat or on foot from the Cinque Terre is, however, the church of San Lorenzo. This atypical building looks more like an ancient fortress protected by towers than a church.
The Doria Castle
An important attraction of Portovenere is this beautiful castle built on the cliff. It was erected in the XII-XIV century. From Piazzale del Castello Doria, a breathtaking view of Portovenere and the church of San Pietro opens before you. Entry to the castle costs 5 euro and it is open from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm.
Excursion by boat
The boat tour touches the islands of Tino, Tinetto and Palmaria, plus some caves. When you take your seat on the boat, sit on the right: it is the best place for a view of the islands. Once past the island of Tinetto it is better to move to the bow of the ship. The tour to the caves of Palmaria starts here. Price: 15 euro (50% discount for children 6-11 years).
Visiting the islands of Palmaria
This is the largest island in Liguria and has its attractions: the fortress of Umberto, the Cavour fort and the small hamlets of Pozzale and Terrizzo, Palmaria has many walking trails, so you can also spend a whole day visiting the island. Boats depart for Palmaria every 10 minutes from the Portovenere jetty from 7 am until midnight in summer and up to 8 pm in other seasons. More information on the island on the site entirely devoted to Portovenere.
Map of attractions and the trails in Portovenere and the island of Palmaria
Pedestrian routes near Portovenere and on the island of Palmaria
Read more information on all the popular routes on the page “Trails and routes”.
Riomaggiore - Portovenere
The current condition of the route: Open.
A portion of the upper trail that crosses the entire park of the Cinque Terre goes from Portovenere to Riomaggiore. It goes through places rich in typical bushland. If you don’t want to go as far as Riomaggiore on foot, you can do a walk of 1 km and stroll up to the Muzzerone fort and from there return to Portovenere by taking the nearby trail.
The island of Palmaria
The current condition of the route: Open.
There are numerous trails here. You can do a short tour around Palmaria or walk around the whole island, with a short stop to admire the monuments and some settlements on the other side.
* Kcal - more information on the consumption of calories and the complexity of the various trails can be found in the section “Walking trails”.
Recommended hotels in Portovenere
This village is very popular with tourists. For this reason the hotels in Portovenere are booked out well before the start of the season, so it is a good idea to book quite a bit in advance of your visit. Accommodation here is not cheap, but you can find some good rates. We recommend the following accommodation options (See all the hotels here).
On this page you can read visitor comments on all the hotels and compare them. In addition, you should consult:
Low-cost hotels in Portovenere.
Romantic hotels in Portovenere.
Luxury hotels in Portovenere.
Use a filter to search for a hotel in Portovenere.
Parking in Portovenere
There are no car parks in the village, but on the outskirts of Portovenere there are car parks located in three areas: the furthest out called Gulf (Golfo) is set up for motorhomes and tourist buses as well. Rates vary, depending on the season and the distance from Portovenere of each parking area. It is virtually impossible to find a parking spot available in peak season at the parking areas closest to Portovenere. But if you do not want to walk to the center if you have parked a long way away, don’t worry, you can take a shuttle bus that operates from 9 am till midnight. More information on the page “Visiting by car”.
