Lying on a promontory poking into the Mediterranean, some 56 kilometres south of Genoa (Genova), Sestri Levante is set between two bays. The Ligurian coastal town lies between the poetically named Bay of the Fables and the Bay of Silence. The Baia del Silenzio is a romantic little bay, as quiet as its name suggests, with a small boardwalk/promenade, but most of its houses coming right down to the beach. Here the little boats or 'gozzi' are pulled up on the sands after fishing is done for the day. The headland curves round with a little church guarding its furthest extent. An added bonus is that the whole of the sandy beach is public property ... none of it partitioned off as private beach by the hotels unlike so much of the Italian seaside. Back from the bay there is the old town, with its narrow alleys and pastel-coloured houses ... a typical and rather lovely Ligurian seaside town in fact.
The Baia delle Favole, meanwhile is rather different, with a wide boulevard fringed with palm trees, seats and play areas for the children ... much grander and very much of the early 20th century in its ambience. Between the two bays lies Sestri Levante itself, dating from Roman times and today amply set up for the modern holidaymaker. There are some very good restaurants (and seafood features strongly on the menu of course, with anchovies much in evidence, as is the Ligurian speciality pesto). Nearby visits must include the city of Genoa, much revived in recent years, and the pretty cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, to get you in the mood
- see also our full listings of Sestri Levante hotels.
