Portovenere is a village perched on cliffs overlooking the sea, a place that seems to have stood still in time. To the east stretches the Gulf of La Spezia, but to the west you meet on the horizon only the sky and the open sea.
A hidden jewel of Liguria, a fishing village with an ancient history and timeless beauty. It features narrow streets and colorful terraced houses along the sea that climb up the hillside, the castle and the church of San Pietro at the tip offering a spectacular view of the bay of Portovenere and the islands of Palmaria, Tino, and Tinetto.
But as we climb the hill between the dry stone walls dividing the olive trees, all noises gradually become muffled until they are lost in the distance.
It is here that Francesca has decided to live with her family and where 'Terre di Portovenere' was born, hectares of land restored to their original vocation with the terraced cultivations typical of Liguria and stone farmhouses that retain their rural characteristics.
We produce cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, we collect eggs from our hens and honey from our bees, and our vegetable garden offers fresh vegetables throughout the year thanks to the mild climate and favourable exposure to the sun.
A nature to be experienced by completely immersing oneself in it and experiencing what surrounds us: touching, smelling, listening, tasting what it offers.
Born Venetians with the mountains in our hearts, we found our place in Portovenere, at this extreme edge of Liguria on the border with Tuscany, because here the mountains meet the sea.
In the heart of an extraordinary system of parks (2 national parks and 5 regional parks), we fell in love with this place, its light, its traditions, and we decided, deviating from paths that seemed already written, to dedicate ourselves to "Terre di Portovenere", a dream that became a project and a lifestyle shared by our daughters, lovers of travel, nature, and every outdoor sport.
From La Spezia follow the signs for Portovenere. In Portovenere, the parking spaces available are those outside the historic centre in the paid parking spaces, delimited by the blue stripes, at the roadside.
From the first Saturday in March to the penultimate Sunday in October, all parking spaces are all metered from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. while at other times of the year in areas further away from the centre parking is free.
The path climbs from the right side of Bastreri Square (near the public baths) and climbs towards the Muzzerone refuge.
The house in the tower
Da Piazza Bastreri, prendere via Giovanni Capellini, proseguire fino al civico numero 3.
From La Spezia, follow the signs for Portovenere, past Marola, Cadimare and Fezzano. Once at Grazie, follow the signs for the 'Palestra Rocciatori', taking a road on the right.
When you come to a fork in the road, take the straight dirt road downhill until you come to an orange emergency call box. Park your car in the adjacent space and then continue along the path AV5T (Alta Via 5 Terre) towards Portovenere.
In less than 10 minutes you will reach Rifugio Muzzerone, pass it by following path 519 towards Portovenere. After a further 10 minutes you will meet the sign of "The house above the castle”.
The house in the tower
Seguire le solite indicazioni, proseguire il sentiero 519 fino ad arrivare a portovenere, in piazza Piazza Bastreri. Prendere via Giovanni Capellini, proseguire fino al civico numero 3.
