10 Must-Try Activities in Liguria

Val Bisagno starts near Genoa in Bargagli and covers 28 km of the Acquedotto Storico (Historical Aqueduct), which supplied the city and its port until the 19th century. The structure's sober and majestic lines are surrounded by Mediterranean wildlife, home to broom trees and holm oaks and great for spotting pheasants and herons.

The route's slightly downhill and isn’t suitable for children under ten, as some parts are unenclosed. Admire the combination of art and technical skill in the slender and grandiose arches of the magnificent Ponte Canale bridge on Rio Torbido. There's an area with picnic tables and benches nearby.

Riviera di Levante (Levante Riviera) is one of the best places to sail. Nothing compares to visiting towns and villages by sea. Climb aboard in Porto Antico (Old Port) in Golfo di Genova (Gulf of Genoa), and sail toward the incredible Golfo Paradiso and Golfo del Tigullio (Tigullio Gulf). Having left the moorings, you’ll reach Recco, where bakers make focaccia col formaggio (cheese focaccia).

You're then greeted by Camogli's red, yellow and pink houses clustered around the seashore, whose marina glimmers with countless little white gozzi (traditional wooden boats). After San Fruttuoso (home to the divers' treasure Cristo degli Abissi, or Christ of the Abyss) is Portofino, a historic fishing village now known for boutiques, restaurants and luxury hotels.

Camogli is home to fun and flavoursome festivals. If you're staying in Liguria, don't miss the Sagra del Pesce di Camogli (Camogli Fish Festival). It takes place every year on the second Sunday in May. The scent of fish cooking in hot oil fills Piazza Colombo, where an enormous pan measuring almost five meters in diameter is used to fry fish for hundreds of hungry and curious visitors.

The food is distributed late morning and afternoon, while the stalls serve traditional delicacies and homemade produce. If you're not lucky enough to be in Camogli at this time, there are several great restaurants where you can try the local specialties as you admire the sea view.

Genoa and Savona are the places to go for foodie delights. This stretch of coast is known for its local homemade specialties. Farinata, a Mediterranean-style flatbread recreated with chickpea flour, is one of Liguria's most popular delicacies. But it's not the only crowd pleaser. While the classic chickpea version is a fixture in the narrow alleyways of Genoa, in Savona the thinner, crunchier farinata bianca con farina di grano (wheat-flour version) takes center stage.

Farinata is cooked in the copper pans of sciamadde, rustic fried-food shops dotted along the streets. These shops commonly feature a marble counters packed with appetisers and a wood oven emitting hot, fragrant treats.

The Fortezza del Priamar (Priamar Fortress), built behind the port of Savona in the 16th century, on the hill that gives it its name, has a foreboding air. This imposing stone building, with its massive fortified towers, rises from the remains of what was once a moat intended to stop enemies. From here you could spot invaders, while today you can admire the enchanting cityscape and sea view.

Distinguished by classic military architectural features, the building's home to Civico Museo Archeologico e della Città (Civic Archeological and City Museum), with finds arranged by date. It also displays open excavations. To learn about every detail of the stronghold and its history, take advantage of the guided tours and activities for schools.

Paraggi offers a great opportunity for sports, especially for adventurers! In the Baia di Paraggi (Paraggi Bay), a gem of the Riviera di Levante (Levante Riviera), tourists are gently rocked in their kayaks by the Mediterranean waves, armed with a double-blade paddle and suitable clothing (swimsuit in summer and neoprene wetsuit when it's chilly). Sporty types can also try out SUP (stand up paddleboarding).

Not content staying on the surface? The bay's seabed contains the Grotta del Presepe (Nativity Grotto). 18 meters deep, it’s near the Spiaggetta dei Ciottoli ('small pebble beach') under Castello Bonomi (Bonomi Castle).

The Grotte di Toirano (Toirano Caves) are popular with lovers of natural beauty and archeology enthusiasts. They're located in the Riviera di Ponente (Ponente Riviera), behind Borghetto Santo Spirito. The most famous and striking is the Grotta di Basura (Basura Cave). This vast, evocative space is rich in distinctive mineral surfaces, with rounded reliefs, and has a fantastical feel.

There's evidence of human and animal activity dating back to the mists of time. There are signs of bear hibernation as well as hand and footprints from prehistoric Homo sapiens.

The Ligurian coast is a great place to start exploring the Santuario dei Cetacei (Cetacean Sanctuary), a Biosphere Reserve established to protect marine mammals in the northern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea. From Porto Maurizio to Imperia, at Calata Anselmi, motoboats carrying whale watchers and marine biologists set off to show tourists fin whales, dolphins, sperm whales, beaked whales and other wonderful animals.

The excursion takes over four hours. You can take photos and learn about the mysterious world of seabeds and caverns, home to algae, fish and molluscs. A great excuse to dust off those old binoculars!

The Via dell'Olio (Olive Oil Route) is in Liguria, running along the coast of Ponente from Savona to Imperia. Here you'll discover the queen of olive oils, which takes its name from the medieval village of Taggia: Taggiasca. The olive tree is a typical Mediterranean plant, and processing its fruit for oil is an ancient tradition.

Visiting olive oil mills is a profound and enjoyable experience where you can learn about their rich history. Admire the ancient millstones and encounter flavors in organized tasting sessions. Toward the end of autumn, you can watch the millstones in action as they cold-press the delicious Taggiasca olives.

The Museo Etnografico e della Stregoneria (Museum of Ethnography And Witchcraft) in Trioria is located in Liguria's mountainous backcountry, in Valle Argentina and within the Parco Regionale delle Alpi Liguri (Alpi Liguri Regional Park). Six rooms feature testimonies to a bygone country life, while the basement is home to an exhibition on witchcraft.

This area tells the tale of a dark period in local history: the trials and tortures inflicted on women of the town accused of practicing black magic between 1587 and 1589. After you've visited the historic penitentiaries, stop by one of the restaurants and taste the pane di Triora (Triora bread), and bruss, a strong-flavoured creamy cheese.