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On Italy's Liguria coast, Diano Marina sits at the extreme north west of the country - if not within a stone's throw of France then at least close enough to have a Gallic influence. This is the Italian Riviera, with Monaco just over the border and San Remo a near neighbour, and has the raffish charm that the phrase suggests - a spot to be sinking Campari cocktails rather than a chilled Peroni perhaps. This stretch west of Genoa is dubbed the Riviera di Ponente, and is very popular with Italians for their summer vacations. And at the risk of overloading you with rivieras, this spot (centred on the Gulf of Diana) has been dubbed the 'Riviera of Flowers'. Appropriate enough, as this lush strip of Ligurian littoral has a huge number of nurseries, and the hotels especially make a point of covering as much of themselves as possible in bloom. Diano Marina is the main town on the Gulf, a modern and popular seaside resort, with broad clean sandy beaches and a delightful promenade bedecked with flowers (but of course). Superbly set up for families, it has good shops and restaurants, and a port offering tourist boast trips. You'll struggle for ancient relics here - Diano Marina was Iron Age and Roman settlement, but the town was flattened by an earthquake in 1887 and entirely rebuilt. You can look at the Roman and medieval remains that were salvaged in the Civic Museum. Nearby towns to explore include Cervo, Diano Arentino, Diano Castello, Diano San Pietro, San Bartolomeo al Mare and Villa Faraldi. There are also some excellent walks around the hills and coast, including the ancient Savoia Road and some ancient villages. A trip into the buzzing city of Genoa (Genova) is also highly recommended.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, to get you in the mood
- see also our full listings of Diano Marina hotels.
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