Italy is chock full of places you will have heard about from history books, travel brochures and television programmes. But there are other equally amazing places the country has to offer that aren’t anywhere near as well known.

A good example is Portofino. When you see some pictures of this delightful place you will think it was specifically put together as a contender for the prettiest location in all of Italy. This is not to exaggerate in any way either – the fishing village has been adopted somewhat by many rich and famous people and it is not hard to see why. You may not be able to afford to live here but you can certainly pay it a visit while you are holidaying in Italy.

The village is in the northern reaches of Italy, settled in the Genoa province. If you see pictures of it before you go you will still be amazed at how beautiful it is when you see it in person. Colour is a big theme here – you will witness pastel painted houses and the deep blue of the waters that flow into the small harbour. It may not be a big place but it doesn’t need to be. It has everything it could possibly need to tempt many visitors to its shores every single year. Once it captures your imagination you will find it hard to resist a repeat visit.

One of the things to do here is simply to wander around and take in the beauty of your surroundings. This should include a look at the many boats bobbing around in the harbour. There’s no telling if any of them have famous owners, but it’s certainly nice to think about the possibilities!

The curved nature of the bay lends it a cosy feel. There is nothing better than to find a chair at one of the local cafes so you can drink coffee and watch the passers by as they explore Portofino for themselves. Don’t just explore with your feet: exploring with your eyes can reveal many new places and things to delight in when you arrive in Portofino.