Purity Born of Mountain and Sea
Nowhere in Italy is the juxtaposition between precipitous rocky topography and saltwater richness more concentrated than along the Ligurian coastline. Here, maritime pine forests meet terraced olive groves that drop straight into the deep blue gulfs of Tigullio and Paradiso.
"True Genovese pesto prepared in a marble mortar with young Pra' basil leaves and cold-pressed Taggiasca olive oil is not a condiment — it is an olfactory portrait of the Italian coastline."
The Legend of Santa Margherita Red Prawns
At Belmond Hotel Splendido, dinner on La Terrazza begins with local fishermen docking their wooden gozzo boats just below in the Portofino harbor. The coveted Gambero Rosso di Santa Margherita — caught at depths exceeding 600 meters where the Mediterranean water is icy and mineral-dense — are served carpaccio-style with sea salt flakes, citrus zest, and Ligurian olive oil.
Botanical Terraces and Vintage Cellars
Between course intervals, sommelier selections showcase hard-to-find Pigato and Vermentino wines sourced from the steep terraced vineyards of the Cinque Terre, where harvest baskets must still be carried down the cliffs by hand.