Visit the Gulf of Poets

When one thinks of the region of Liguria, one often conjures up images of the historical city of Genoa and the stunning Cinque Terre. However, very close to the Cinque Terre lies ‘the Gulf of Poets’, a picturesque area which is often overlooked by its more well-known neighbor, but is most definitely worth visiting.

The Gulf of Poets, which is also known as the Gulf of La Spezia, takes its name from the fact that it has inspired many famous poets over the years. The name was triggered by Sam Benelli in 1919, when he himself was working on his poetry. Among the other poets include Dante, who boasted about the beauty of the region. English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley had set up home in San Terenzo and tragically drowned when he encountered a storm whilst out at sea. Poets were not the only ones who found creativity in this region, as Italian artist Paolo Mantegazza and Swiss painter Arnold Böcklin were said to have enjoyed spending time in the Gulf of Poets.

For a quiet and relaxing time, the Gulf is filled with small and pretty villages which will give a taste of the real Italy. One can hike south from San Terenzo to small fishing villages on the rugged coast like Montemarcello, Tellaro, and Fiascherino. It goes without saying that the seafood in these villages, which will be amazingly fresh, is an absolute must!

 If you are looking for a bit more action, the three biggest towns to visit in the region include Lerici, Porto Venere and La Spezia. Lerici boasts medieval originals with a 12^th Century castle, a fascinating Jewish quarter as well as houses built in a compact manner through small and cute alleyways and streets.

Porto Venere was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, an action which emphasizes how important it was to protect its beauty. Byron’s cave is a marvelous marine sea cave named after another English poet who patronized the area, George Gordon Byron, who was known to swim in this rocky area. Porto Venere also offers a habour with colourful houses, shops and seafood restaurants galore (it really is a must in Liguria!). 

La Spezia is similar to Porto Venere with its pretty and bright buildings, but offers many museums and churches to sample a bit of culture on your trip. After dusk there are also a few clubs which come highly recommended- those looking for an Italian clubbing experience should try out Map Bar, which is popular with the local young Italians. Those looking for a more sophisticated evening ought to visit wine bar Enoteca Eliseo, which boasts candlelit dinners and classical music to suit a romantic evening.

There is an abundance of activities in the Gulf of Poets as well as the whole region. It’s often best to take a vacation rental property in Liguria for a week (or even two) to get a real feel of the area and soak up all the culture, the beaches, the mountains, and most importantly, the food!

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Tips on Tuscany: Apartments, Airfare, Best Time to Go and Transportation

Tuscany is best traveled during the period going from April to the end of September. However the Fall and Winter seasons also give plenty of opportunities to enjoy this wonderful territory at lower prices. Tuscany apartments are indeed much cheaper during this period of the year. The same goes for villas and hotels also. Moreover, you are much more likely to find cheaper airfares, less crowded hubs and airports, and much more accommodation availability and flexibility. In addition, traveling through Tuscany at the discovery of nice towns, culinary fairs (the fall period abounds with town fairs) is going to be much easier with less traffic on streets, fewer tourists, and lower temperatures.

The advice given here is to choose a central location to depart from for your daytrips in Tuscany. Pick a nice farm house with welcoming Tuscany apartments as your base. This will make it easier for you to orient in the chosen area while delimiting the array of action. It is important not to incur into the wanna-see-it-all syndrome, which invariably leads to stress and lack of enjoyment.

Do some research before leaving. There is plenty of information on sites like Wikipedia to enlighten you. This will help you select your area of interest in Tuscany. Are you interested in wine and sightseeing? Then pick the Chianti. You love boat rides and the sea while you do not want to miss out on Etruscan archaeological parks? The Costa degli Etruschi is for you then. Remember, Tuscany is not a small region, therefore count the time for your road trips as an important factor while planning. As a rule of thumb, stay within a 70 kilometers radius from your chosen stay.

Another fundamental aspect is the mean of transportation. Car rental is also cheaper during the low season, and a car definitely is the best way to get around. If, however, you think you are going to be visiting only major cities, then pick your Tuscany apartments at a comfortable walking distance from a train station. Keep in mind that there are some remote stations that are barely served. You will need one that is on a reasonably trafficked line. This will reduce the traveling time and increase your choices. Other means of transportation are buses, largely employed in Tuscany, and private van rentals with driver. The latter option includes pick up and drop off services, but it is quite expensive and best suitable to larger groups of people. The maximum number of seats per trip is eight. So keep that in mind while planning.

Finally, the last aspect to consider is the type of accommodation. Usually the most convenient solution are Tuscany apartments, since they provide the independence and flexibility of self-catered accommodations. You may also be able to find property owners that in the price include the breakfast. Apartments come in all sizes and shapes. There are some that can accommodate more than 8 people, while others are small nests for couples. Often, Tuscan farm houses provide an opening between apartments, so if your group is large you can all stay together while keeping a nice degree of privacy.Villas and hotels are somewhat more expensive than apartments, but they definitely provide value to those who seek, respectively, total privacy or full services.

Matt lives and works consulting for property owners in Tuscany. He wishes one day to become an owner himself and buy a set of Tuscany apartments to rent to guests from all over the world.

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