You are on PortofinoSaturday, February 21st, 2009 
On the hill dominating the bay of Portofino with a view of the point, the suburb, and the entire gulf of Tigullio, one finds the Hotel Splendido. The name was suggested by D’Annunzio and seems perfectly fitting. The construction was originally a villa by the barons Baratta. It was a Portofinian by the name of Valentino who in 1905 transformed it into a hotel of great prestige. From the time of its opening until the second world war it also had a succession of illustrious guests. After the war it enjoyed a rejuvenation due to the presence of major American Hollywood actors and became a “little Beverly Hills“. 
The famous Liz Taylor and her husband Eddie Fisher in Portofino(1954) Read more » Saturday, February 21st, 2009 
(Portofino, Remo Cremona) – August fasteners for the star of the star Elton John to Portofino. The famous singer arrived suddenly with black Bentley Limo from Saint Tropez with her husband David Furnish. The couple appeared in form, smiling tourists even if did not want to give autographs. Godmother hand in the model Afef Tronchetti Provera. Elton in “three buttons” with cream shoes and small borders in bleu, David shirt in a pastel lilac color righine such as trousers with a neck foularino Hermès in bleu. Dark sunglasses and sneakers. In bleu too long Afef, enriched by a pearl necklace in silver color as your shoes. Tunisian-style bracelets and Louis Vuitton belt. Even for her dark glasses Gucci. Read more » Saturday, February 21st, 2009 
10 years have elapsed since 1998 when, in the Portofino’s Piazzetta, the finest in the world, appeared a young girl born in South Africa with French origins. It wasCharlize Theron – now Hollywood diva who won an Oscar as best actress – restraint in the entertainment world as the most beautiful woman in the world. Reason? The spot of Martini to strengthen the brand linked to Portofino. The story ran on the wire of two-way. A sensual and ammicante blonde – wearing a wig – and a rich elderly gentleman sitting at the table. In their midst a young and aitante a choice: continue or disrupt their lives. Weapon of seduction of the latter two glasses. Filled with Martini and ice. The young woman chooses. Gets up walking towards his drink and the young love with a wire caught in a table that plays a scucire a habit. The rest has become a legend in the world of advertising linked to Portofino. Happy anniversary Charlize. Portofino World, a world apart. Thursday, February 19th, 2009 
Only out of respect for chronological order have we waited until now to remember in this review of personalities connected with Portofino, the scientist of world importance and genius of physics, Guglielmo Marconi and his mythical yacht the “Electra”. The great benefactor of humanity was in Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino very often in the years between 1932 and 1937, and the boat, whose fatal name he wanted to give to his daughter, remained moored in the port of Santa Margherita Ligure. It was in fact in the Villa Repellini of Pedale, half way between Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino, where Marconi with his assisten Mr. Gerald Isted, who was staying at the Hotel Regina and some other Hotels at the time, installed the first parabolic antennae, a forerunner of television. Read more » Thursday, January 1st, 2009 It all began with a few cottages built on supports over the water at the mouths of two rivers: the S. Siro, (where today stands the Cinema Centrale, formerly the Savoia) and the Magistrato (where to- day stands the International Pharmacy). When violent rains didn’t provoke over- flowing and flooding, two smaller rivulet flowed from these river. In the summer they were dry and the cause of bad odors and swarms of mosquitoes. Let’s immagine here, exactly were Santa Margherita Ligure is now, the site of the first primitive settlement of a group of Tigullians that were conquered only by the Romans after the Ligurian wars that ended in 166 BC. Allied with the Ligurians of Velleia on Mount Penna, they were “beaten but not tamed”. But the Tigullians of this locality, which was then called Pescino, had little to do with the Romans. Occasionally some Roman galleys would arrive at Portus Delphini (Portofino) whose name was of Roman origins although its port had al- ready been used by the Phoenicians being the only existing shelter between the Gulf of La Spezia and the port of Ge- noa. The inhabitants of Pescino, intent on cultivating what little could be pro- duced from the small fields in the val- leys, rarely went to Portus Delphini. Any encounters they might have had with the Romans were on the sea, in their little gulf where they went fishing. The inhabitants of Portus Delphini and Pescino spoke their native Celtic Ligu- Han, the Romans Latin, two very diffe- rent languages, reciprocally incom- prehensible. By land certainly no one braved the steep impassable cliffs that surge vertically from the sea and led to Portus Delphini; passing the Focetta where the castle is, one had to climb the rocks to reach the beach which lies just beyond it. Further on, a dense forest be- gan, “the Black Forest” as the Romans called it. The Roman road Aurelia Scauri did not pass by Pescino, which in contrast with Segesta Tigullinorum (Sestri Levante), Lavagna, and Rapallo, remained isolated and inaccessible by land. For this reason, if vestiges of the Romans are scarce in the eastern part of Tigullio, we have much less in the western part. The Goths, who arrived in 493 AD, maintained the Roman administration in the territory instituting their own mi- litary chief, a “comes” (a Count) in the Roman “pagi”. Then in 553 the Bizantines took over, establishing as their ca pitol what is probably today Lavagna the ancient city of Tigullia of which Plinio spoke at the beginning of the millenium. The inhabitants of Tigullio (Site gulf area) have few contacts with the habarbarian invaders and maintained the ; ‘o paganisns which preceded the Romans. It is well known that the word “paganism” derives from the resistance its the “pagi” (villages, in the Roman terminology) of Greco-Roman cults which existed prior to the advent of Christianity. The Lou gobards who descended in Liguria con verted to Catholicism through Queen Teodolinda. They were very devoted to Saint Michael and constructed several churches to this saint. The Liçurians, however, never forgot that before they had been pagans and called the church of the Roman Pomarus San Michele ili Pagana. It was in the sixth century that mona chism, having already begun in the west, began to develop in Liguria. This is evident by the foundation by monks of the monastery of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte. Portofino World Site, a world apart.
Thursday, January 1st, 2009 Dear Reader, this part has as its aim, to bring to the fore some of the illustrious personages that have lived on or visited the coast that is the subject of this book. I mention but a few and this is not to be taken as a discrimination towards those not mentioned. Some are very well known, others less so… Howerer we don’t know much about their contacts with Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure and Italian Riviera. It may seem peculiar to reduce to the period of time spent on this coast, (attimes very brief) what there could be to say about these persons. They came to study, for inspiration, for relaxation, for tourism, or perhaps even for some mischief. However, may be it will not displease the reader to record their appearance however fleeting; to visit with artists, philosophers, and scientists, not to mention leaders, kings, and queens of different historic periods, all of whom at one time or another touched down on some point along the coast that stretches from the point of Portofino to the shore of Pagana and Rapallo. This riviera, I do not hesitate to say, is one of the most beautiful in the world. The amenities of this area favored on these shores the rise of great residences in which some of the persons I will remember, stayed. They are among the richest in art and history. The characters, the events and the places are reported here onli in “flash” according to chronological order. Starting then from the very distant past, of which we unfortunately have less reliable testimony, to arrive at the present we must revisit different historic periods. In anticipation of those who are lovers of more exhaustive profiles, we remind you that this is not an academic work. Over the course of history many famous people have visited Liguria, but until the second half of the last century the real destination was Genoa. The rest of the region was difficult to reach because of the impassable obstacles by land. One arrived for the most part by boat. Many of these famous persons landed by boat on the coast solely because of bad conditions at sea. A few courageous others adventured over the mountain paths. Then, conditions of communication being improved, in the second half of the nineteenth century and in the twentieth, many other important figures, we will mention only a few, came and soon word of the exclusive beauty of the region spread and others began to flock here. Some, realizing the hospitality of the inhabitants stayed for quite some time. Anyway, in this part, we will try to present some of our guest of the past. With love from Portofino. Portofino World Site, a world apart. Saturday, October 25th, 2008 
Forecast good time for the final weekend of the 48th Boat Show of Genoa. Sun, temperatures in spring, calm sea. Ideal conditions for seeing, try and decide the ship to come. Despite the international time, the exhibition has “correct” what has been done the previous year. Fewer people but distributed throughout the day. One might say that this year has opened new areas and therefore better visibility for the many visitors, as well as new and impressive stand with many boats demonstration of a thriving market. Among the captains of industry, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts, there was also Veronica Lario, in the photo, wife of Premier Silvio Berlusconi of “home” to Portofino. With his impeccable style lounge around in lonely of deepening new technologies and new hulls. Read more » Monday, October 20th, 2008 
The 48th Genoa Boat Show is upon us. It’s scheduled from 4 to 12 October next year.
Perhaps in Europe is the most important event for lovers of pleasure, accessories and large vessels. All big production will be present. We recommend a visit to the Ferretti Group, the everlasting Riva who have made a legend Portofino and Sessa Marine. Here are our recommendations for the choice of hotels: In Genoa close to the Fair, about 20 minutes walk, there is the Star Hotel, a business hotel in Corte Lambruschini 5 minutes from the railway station of Genoa Brignole. At Porto Antico in Genoa remind the Jolly Marina, you are on the seafront at about 20 minutes’ drive, including traffic. Above the Fair is the Bentley, a five star among our favorites. Can be reached on foot in about 20 minutes. In the center in Via XX Settembre, the Bristol Palace about 30 minutes walk from the fairgrounds. In Riviera – so enjoy some sea and relax in the evening – in Rapallo ‘s Excelsior Palace and Bristol. In Santa Margherita Ligure Lido Palace Hotel. The latter offers shuttle service to the exhibition starting in the morning and return in the evening. A Camogli the Cenobio dei Dogi and – with fewer demands – but with a sea view and delicious jacuzzi to relax La Locanda I Tre Merli. Read more » |
