Portovenere, Italy

Voyage to a romantic Italian seaside village

When you picture classic Italian romance (think Lady-and-the-Tramp-sharing-a-plate-of-spaghetti-and-meatballs-while-staring-into-each-other’s-eyes romance), the setting could be Portovenere.

Set on the Gulf of Poets (Golfo dei Poeti), Portovenere served as inspiration for the works of English poets Lord Byron and Percy Shelley in the early 1800s, which speaks volumes for just how romantic this idyllic seaside village really is.

Stroll along winding cobblestone streets to San Pietro Church, which sits upon a site that’s believed to have once been a temple to Venus, or Venere in Italian, which is where Portovenere got its name. Look up and you’ll see the imposing Doria Castle, which was built by the Genoans to loom over Portovenere like a dark, menacing storm cloud (although the view from the site is anything but gloomy!).

Meander along the harbor promenade lined with colorful houses and restaurants serving freshly caught seafood, or enjoy a glass of vino at one of the waterfront bars. But make sure you visit Grotta Dell’Arpaia, where Lord Byron used to swim and relax during the 1820s. It’s easy to see how Byron was inspired to write some of his most romantic works here.