All SEE in Portofino

In Portofino, you can relax in the small picturesque port of the town, you can visit the Church of San Martino, climb to the one dedicated to San Giorgio, and further, to Castello Brown, or you can simply walk through the beautiful forest which covers the area.

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    Marina di Portofino

    Marina di Portofino is one of the most beautiful harbours in the world, located in one of the most famous Italian destinations, Portofino. Marina di Portofino stands in the middle of a natural promontory and extends to the main square of the town, Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta. Marina di Portofino offers 14 mooring places for boats and superyachts, all with water and electricity, as well as 2 places for megayachts in the Cannone Bay (Baia Cannone). There are many restaurants and terraces around the harbour, where you can relax and admire the beautiful port, but in order to enjoy the view of the entire Marina di Portofino, you must climb the stairs to the Church of San Giorgio or to the Brown Castle, two structures that dominate the surroundings. From there, the view is breathtaking.   HOW TO GET THERE Portofino is very small. To reach the harbour on foot from any point in the town, it’s a matter of minutes. Of course, if you need precise directions, you can use the map below.

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    Church of San Martino

    The Church of San Martino (Chiesa del Divo Martino) is a church in Romanesque style, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, in Portofino.   SHORT HISTORY The church was probably built during the 12th century, around the same time the Church of San Giorgio was erected. The structure is mentioned in a document of 1130, with the decision of Pope Innocent II to cede the property to the monks of the nearby Abbey of San Fruttuoso, and again in 1164, where the same privileges were confirmed by Pope Alexander III. The consecration of the church took place on June 10, 1548, and on March 8, 1550, the ownership of the religious building passed to the Prince Andrea Doria and his heirs, through a papal bull of Pope Julius III. During the 19th century, the Church of San Martino was renovated and expanded, and took its current shape.   ART Inside, there are several pictorial and sculptural works, such as the wooden group depicting the Deposition of Christ by the Genoese sculptor Anton Maria Maragliano, the canvas of the Madonna del Rosario by an unknown painter, an Annunciation of the 18th century, and a painting depicting the Saints Rocco, Sebastiano and Read more [...]

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    Church of San Giorgio

    The Church of San Giorgio is a small Catholic church in Portofino, located on an elevated position, enjoying a panoramic view of the Marina di Portofino. The church is dedicated to Saint George, a soldier in the Roman army and member of the Praetorian Guard for Roman emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for refusing to renounce his Christian faith.   SHORT HISTORY According to a plaque located inside the church, the structure was built in Romanesque style in 1154. The church was revised and modified in 1691 and, at the same time, the road of Salita San Giorgio was widened, allowing the locals to reach the church from the main square of the village. A further restoration took place in 1760. During the Second World War, the church was completely destroyed by a bomb. The reconstruction work started after the end of the conflict, in 1950, and the church was rebuilt following the plans of 1760. Inside the church, there are the relics of Saint George, the patron saint of Portofino, brought by the sailors returning from the Crusades.   HOW TO GET THERE You can get to the Church of San Giorgio after a short climb of Read more [...]

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    Castello Brown

    Castello Brown, formerly known as the Castle of San Giorgio, is an ancient military fortress placed in an elevated position, that dominates the small town of Portofino. The castle is surrounded by a Mediterranean garden full of cypress trees, flowers and pergolas.   SHORT HISTORY During some excavations in the area, in the place of today’s castle were found traces of an ancient Roman watchtower dating back to the 3rd century AD. The first official information on the current structure dates back to 1425, when Tomaso Fregoso, Doge of the Republic of Genoa, occupied the village of Portofino. In the 16th century, several restoration and expansion works were carried out. Between 1554 and 1557, the castle was extended by a new platform towards the port, after a design by the engineer Giovanni Maria Olgiati. In 1624, new works strengthened the castle, and in 1728, other works were carried out, enriching the armament and arranging the interior of the fortress. The fortress passed to the French in 1797, when Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Liguria. After Napoleon left and the town was included in the Kindom of Sardinia and subsequently in the Kingdom of Italy, the military fortress was completely disarmed starting with Read more [...]