The Italian Riviera La Dolce Vita Style

I had the pleasure of attending a wedding celebration last August at the beautiful Loano Yacht Club in the Italian Riviera and took full advantage by extending my trip to explore Genoa, Cinque Terre and Pisa.

For thousands of years, the Italians have long been known for their La Dolce Vita lifestyle. Their luxurious way of living which consists of afternoon siestas; dressing well; eating a daily Mediterranean diet; and taking extensive vacation breaks has always inspired me.  It is not uncommon for an Italian family to take the whole month of August off for their vacations. Where do they go? When you have the Italian Riviera accessible by train; where else does one need to go?

Hotel bookings are usually done one year in advance because of the popularity of this region, People travel in from  northern Italy as well as travellers from all over the world flock to the riviera wanting to do as the Italians do. The Italian Riviera is in the Liguira region and starts at the border of  Monaco and runs along the coast extending through Genoa and  Pisa to Tuscany. Along the way and in between  are exquisite seaside towns including Cinque Terre, Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure.

Cinque Terre does not disappoint. One of the villages I spent time in was Monterosso al Mare where we explored the hilly footpaths; walked along Spiaggia de Fegina beach and loaded up on Pizza and gelato.

Pleasantly surprised by the quaint city of Pisa; aside from the famous leaning tower, this city is full of lovely museums, art galleries, local artisan markets and makes for a lovely walk along the Canale Dei Navicelli – gorgeous!

Did not spend as much time in Genoa as I would have liked. We utilized the Genoa train station on our way to the wedding and then Genoa airport on our way back to London; spending one night each time.  Genoa has a lovely marina,  narrow cobblestone streets and  great restaurants that serve home made pasta dishes. I would definitely like to return and stay longer to explore more.

I have learned that it is so important to take the time for myself to unwind with the ones you love at home or away; and while it is not always possible to take a whole month off; a week or two can make all the difference in the world. We all have the ability to create our own La Dolce Vita.