Liguria curves enviably along the Gulf of Genoa, its populations speckling the coastline from La Spezia in the east to France in the west. Its capital, Genoa, once had colonies as far as North Africa, and has no less than 13 palaces on one street alone. The local cuisine varies according to the catch of the day, and basil, olive oil, garlic and cheese combine to make up Liguria's most famous export — pesto.

Here in the Italian Riviera, celebrities pull up in their yachts to shop at the boutiques of Portofino, and the San Remo's Casino has set the standard for sophisticated entertainment for more than 100 years. The Cinque Terre is a series of five villages located in the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre, where protected trails lead visitors and locals through the park in as little as five hours. Walkers take in colourful family homes climbing craggy, terraced hillsides of vineyards and lemon groves, perhaps stopping for a dip in the Ligurian Sea, a glass of regional wine or even an overnight stay.