Portofino

We cruise into Portofino Harbour, absolutely beautiful day, this harbour is just filled with very large yachts and cruiseboats. Some of our crowd are planning to walk up to one of the churches (up on the hill, behind the black hulled yacht), but we have decided just to wander instead.

Portofino was founded by the Romans and named Portus Delphini, or Port of the Dolphin - because of the large number of dolphins that inhabited the Tigullian Gulf.

It was an active small fishing village until the late 19th Century when the first British and other Northern European aristocratic tourists began to visit, reaching it by horse and cart from Santa Margherita Ligure.

Eventually more expatriates built expensive vacation houses up in the surrounding hills, and by 1950 tourism had supplanted fishing as the town's chief industry, and the waterfront became a continuous ring of restaurants and cafes.

Sue and Bob relaxed (until they received their "conto") over a couple of "golden" Riviera caffes - mucho euros!!!

We succumbed to sharing a gelatti "en foot"

and the Brig co-ordinating with the Cafe's furniture at times

Yes, there are 4 churchs in total - below is St. Martins.

and the Oratory of Santa Maria Assunta, in Gothic style. A very picturesque little town

AND a very expensive little town

I noted on our cruise back to Santa Margherita Ligura - and Carlo, the proof of Portofino purchases by our crowd did look very "lean", but as I say a charming Riviera town and a lovely cruise up and down the Tigullian Gulf.

Carlo will now move us away from the coast up towards the borders with Italy to the Lake District - next Lake Maggiore for 2 nights.