The Italian Riviera’s Golfo Paradiso: The Other “Cinque Terre”

A fan of flowers? Beeline here. The most verdant of the five towns, Pieve Ligure is known for its flower blossoms. (In fact, the bright yellow mimosa, or acacia, flower is the town’s symbol). On the second weekend of February, tourists flock to the Mimosa Festival to enjoy the themed parade—and, of course, to collect mimosa bouquets to give to their loved ones on International Women’s Day (March 8).

Sori

Fact: Liguria has fantastic food. And one of the region’s most classic dishes, trofie pasta, got its start here in Sori. Trofie are made from flour and water, then hand-rolled into small, irregular spirals. You’ll find trofie on most of the area’s menus; they’re typically served with fresh pesto, string beans and boiled potatoes.
Even better than the food in Sori? The pristine coastline. I soresi, the locals, take great pride in their environment, and work to preserve its tranquility and quality. No high-rises here!
Read more: The Cinque Terre Train: A How-To Guide

Recco

As much as we love the food in Sori (and across the Italian Riviera… and, okay, all of Liguria), it’s Recco that’s known as the gastronomic capital of the Golfo Paradiso.
Why? Because Recco is the birthplace of two Ligurian specialties. The first, focaccia con il formaggio di Recco, is a plate of the paper-thin bread covered with creamy stracchino cheese. Usually served on a huge circular wooden dish, it’s so delicious, focaccia enthusiasts travel from far and wide just to have a taste! But make sure to save room for the second specialty, pansoti. This pasta is like ravioli, only smaller, meatless, and filled with cheese—and it’s usually topped with a luscious walnut sauce.

Camogli

Camogli is famous for its freshly-caught fish (don’t miss the anchovies!), regal sailing ships, and colorfully-painted homes.
Camogli also hosts two fascinating (and fun!) annual events. The first, the Sagra del Pesce (“Feast of the Fish”), is a huge fish fry that takes place every year on the second Sunday in March. Locals and tourists gather around an enormous frying pan (almost 13 feet, or 4 meters, in diameter!) to get a taste of some of the Italian Riviera’s freshest seafood. (Even if you’re not in town for the festival, you can pay homage to it by going to see the historic, even-larger frying pan on display near the marina).
Meanwhile, on the first Sunday of August, Camogli hosts the Stella Maris. The event was inspired by a mosaic from 400 A.D., located in the town’s San Nicolò di Capodimonte church, that depicts the Madonna as a procuress of sailors. The event starts with a cannon blast in the morning, announcing the departure of Dragun (a famous pirate ship) and its followers. The boats return to land after sundown. In a stunning spectacle, locals illuminate the dark sea for the sailors by placing hundreds of glowing lanterns on the water.