Perfect!

Guest: Karen&Sarah (Sellersville, PA, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/24/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

My daughter and I stayed here in September 2011 and although our stay was unexpectedly cut short , the apartment was perfect and exactly as the photos depict it - It was very comfortable, clean, and well equipped, and the view was fantastic! Each morning I woke to the sun rising over the Golfo dei Poeti - incredible! We enjoyed wine and cheese and olives on the terrace each evening and the restaurants were excellent. I would especially recommend La Lucciola Pizzeria on Via dell' Olivo - the mixed grilled fish was excellent and the presentation was impressive! And also Ristorante La Medusa on Via Cappellini - be sure to try the mussels - they are to die for!! The Cinque Terre was only a short ferry ride away but if you plan on hiking, start at Riomaggiore, not Monterosso, unless you are in excellent shape!! The apartment owner, Sarah, picked us up at the train station when we arrived, and when we had to leave suddenly, she arranged a ride for us to La Spezia. She is friendly, helpful, and ready with suggestions for sightseeing, restaurants, and the best gelatto in Portovenere! I've also been told by a reliable source that the view of the night sky from the rooftop of St. Peter's Church is incredible! Sadly, we didn't get the chance to see it this time, but we hope to return to Italy and when we do we will definitely stay here again and hopefully get to gaze at the stars from the church rooftop! Don't hesitate to rent this charming apartment - it is everything it claims to be and more!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.

Excellent view and nicely appointed!

Guest: Jan and Ron (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 03/04/11 Review Submitted: 06/04/11

We stayed in this lovely apartment for the month of March 2011! It is a great location and close to a wonderful supermarket and delicious restaurants. We really enjoyed the people and local cuisine in Portovenere. We had great fun wandering all over town, and we especially enjoyed the cemetery overlooking the ocean. We easily caught the inexpensive bus to La Spezia, where we could take the train anywhere. We were very close to the Cinque Terre, and spent several days in that area. We took the bus to nearby Sarzana, and had a delightful time in that beautiful city. Although the ferries were not running in March, they would be an excellent way to reach the Cinque Terre towns. We also visited Florence, Parma, and Lucca by train. The food was delicious wherever we went, but we really enjoyed the food and markets in Portovenere! The specialties of the area are focaccia, mussels, and pesto. Several restaurants serve frito misto, fried seafood including shrimp, sardines, and anchovies! Very delicious. The gelato at Lamia was the best we had in Italy. We were also able to cook a few meals in the apartment and enjoy them on the balcony overlooking the gorgeous bay. The kitchen had everything we needed! We really enjoyed our stay in Italy and the apartment was awesome!

Owner response:Jan and Ron really amazed me! They immediately learned the ropes in terms of getting around without a car in off season. They used the apartment as a base and traveled throughout Liguria and Tuscany discovering alot of places off the beaten path and enjoying towns like the CinqueTerre and Portovenere without all of the crowds that come through in high season...... and without the burden of a car! I think that they totally embraced the local culture and even made friends with people on the buses!! I hope that they will consider making it back to Portovenere sometime and thank them for their special review!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.

Perfect location in Portovenere

Guest: Bob (Melbourne Beach, Florida USA)
Date of Stay: 10/10/10 Review Submitted: 01/05/11

My wife and I stayed in this well located apartment with a full garage in lovely Portovenere. We prepared most of our own food in the small, but well equipped kitchen, after shopping in the old town which is a 5-10 minute walk. The balcony overlooking the gulf is a treat....... we sat there several evenings sipping local wine after a day of exploration climbing through the old town, its' churches and castle. The ferry to the Cinque Terre is right on the gulf........ just down the steps from the apartment.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.

Absolutely Perfect!

Guest: RTSoquel (Santa Cruz County)
Date of Stay: 11/16/09 Review Submitted: 05/06/10

My daughter and I stayed here for my 55th birthday in November 2009. We Could not Have Been Happier. The apartment is absolutely lovely. I would wake Each morning eager to go out on the terrace to watch the sunrise on the Bay. It Was Magical. Portovenere is an ideal village. It is small, authentic, and with plenty of restaurants and very kind people. We were there in November I Were Certain shops and restaurants closed for the season, But there still plenty to choose from. Was it an easy drive to the Cinque Terre, Portovenere But we honestly felt That was just as charming as Any of the villages. Sarah was nice and as helpful as Could Be. The apartment HAD everything in it That We Could Want. I would love to return soon.

Owner response:Thank you so much for the wonderful review. It is truly appreciated and I hope that others will take your kind advice and come to this wonderful, off the beaten path area of Italy. Great cuisine,wonderful hikes and authentic atmosphere!! I hope to see you all back soon!!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

Guest: Dick Kaukus (-)
Date of Stay: 09/02/02 Review Submitted: 09/02/02

We have enjoyed our too brief visit to your grand apartment. It was comfortable and well-equipped, and the view over the bay, with all the boats and the mountains in the distance took our breath away. It was so good, a perfect base for day-trips, though my wife and I preferred sticking around, eating, drinking, walking, and swimming. This is a very nice place. We are glad and lucky that we got to see it. Thank you for your hospitality.

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Guest: Dick Kaukus (-)
Date of Stay: 09/02/02 Review Submitted: 09/02/02

We have enjoyed our too brief visit to your grand apartment. It was comfortable and well-equipped, and the view over the bay, with all the boats and the mountains in the distance took our breath away. It was so good, a perfect base for day-trips, though my wife and I preferred sticking around, eating, drinking, walking, and swimming. This is a very nice place. We are glad and lucky that we got to see it. Thank you for your hospitality.

Recommended for:

Guest: Bridges family (-)
Date of Stay: 06/01/02 Review Submitted: 06/01/02

We arrived wondering whether 2 weeks might be too long to spend in such a small and isolated location. We leave knowing we didn’t spend nearly enough time in this magical setting…We enjoyed exploring fascinating places like the Cinque Terre (the hike was great!), Lucca, Pisa, Tellaro, and Portofino. But the best times of all were spent right here in Portovenere experiencing the incredible scenery, the intriguing history, and the friendly people!Especially memorable..the ever changing view from the balcony…wondering what cruise ship or exotic yacht would appear next in the harbor…watching the full moon rise through the clouds over Palmaria and seeing an early morning lightning storm over Tellaro…the scent of lemon trees and jasmine..the fireflies..our regular table at “La Medusa”….pesto and gelato….etc…etc..etc!!!Thank you, Sarah, for enabling us to sample the innumrable delights of Portovenere!!!Bridges familyMarblehead,Massachusetts

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Guest: Bill Justice (-)
Date of Stay: 04/27/02 Review Submitted: 04/27/02

April 27,2002 Dear Sarah, We came here thinking that the Cinque Terre was the highlight, but we found that Portovenere and your wonderful apartment to be the treasure. We are San Fransisco Bay and Pacific Ocean people; so we found it difficult to express our joy at the view of the channel, the bay, and the island. We are seasoned travellers and have neverfound an apartment with every appliance making life so easy. You have our sincere appreciation. Bill Justice San Francisco

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