The 25 best beaches in and around Santa Margherita Ligure

The Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini is a villa with notable 19th-century park in the English romantic style and a small botanical garden. The villa now houses the Museo di Archeologia Ligure, and is located at Via Pallavicini 13, immediately next to the railway station in Pegli, a suburb of Genoa, Italy. The park and botanical garden are open daily except mondays. The estate was begun in the late 17th century by Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi, who established the Giardino botanico Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi at that time. Today's park was created by her nephew Ignazio Alessandro Pallavicini after he inherited the property. The park was designed by Michele Canzio, set designer for the Teatro Carlo Felice, and built between 1840 and 1846. It covers some 97,000 m2 of hillside behind the villa. Although recognizably in the English romantic style, the garden is highly theatrical, to the point of being organized as a series of scenes forming a play with prologue and three acts (Return to Nature, Memory, Purification). Structures and statues through the garden form focal points to this libretto. When the park opened in September 1846, on the occasion of the VIII Congresso degli Scienziati Italiani, it quickly gained national fame. In 1928 its current owner, Matilde Gustinani, donated both park and botanical garden to Genoa for use as a public park. Through the remainder of the 20th century, the garden fell into some disrepair, and indeed was threatened in 1972 by construction of a nearby highway. Its restoration began in 1991, however, in honor of Columbus' discovery of America. As of 2006 about half of the park is open for visitors. In 2017 the park was elected the most beautiful garden in Italy. The park contains two ponds, a dozen notable structures, various statues, and an extensive grotto. The grotto represents a Dantesque inferno, with walkways and subterranean lake through which the visitor may ascend to paradise. In former years, visitors could explore the grotto by boat. Structures include a Coffee House in the shape of triumphal arch, Rustic House, Madonna's Chapel, Mausoleum of the Captain, Temple of Diana, Flower House, Turkish Temple, Obelisk, and Chinese Pagoda. The park also contains a number of plantings of botanical interest, including mature specimens of Araucaria bidwillii, Cedrus libani, Cinnamomum camphora, Jubaea chilensis, Picconia excelsa, Firmiana simplex, Quercus suber, Podocarpus macrophyllus, many exotic palms and a stand of some 160 Camellia japonica.

The great place to relax

Anyone who loves to hike needs to go through here when going to Portofino by foot!

My favorite little beach in S.M. Bring your own towel and goggles to see all the fish that will swim around you, enjoy this gem is completely free and full of sun till around 18:00. People are chill and respectful. It’s a great little spot to relax from the intensity of the main streets and other crowded beaches.

Nice simple place and, luckily, no dogs 🐶 allowed. Some children still are present but they have their “own area” near the beach. Otherwise old and young. Locals (Italians) and tourists. Option to reach the water also with stairs from the part there is no beach, even better option for few reasons. Bresaola salad 🥗 for 8€ and 2 sun beds + umbrella 25€, other places, double, vedi tu! Free showers (not too cold) & WC readily available. Can still walk easily from Santa Margherita as busses 🚎 are full like sardine cans for 1.80€. P.S. Can also just but your own towel down without paying 25€ for 2 sun beds & umbrella. Parking possible with Scooter only Need to take few steps of stairs to arrive “down” to the beach area. Better to arrive before 9, max 10 a.m. as more options to choose from for the sun beds & umbrella location.

Super tasty food 🥰 could have ordered one more pesto lasagne. Surprisingly yummy marinated seafood that goes well with wine. Service staff is friendly and very chill 🤩

Fantastic place! Excellent team, excellent chef, excellent service, excellent &fantastic food, excellent location, bombastic music and I will add one more - excellent weather, so please make sure, you don’t miss it out!!! See the photos, lots of love, Angelina

Wonderful beach! It will be interesting for those who like snorkeling.

This is a magical spot in this peninsula, only reachable by boat or hiking. Wonderful for a day trip, swimming and calm sea. Very kind people in the restaurants and bars.

(Translated by Google) Wonderful beach, a Tigullio wedding favor 😘 (Original) Meravigliosa spiaggia, una bomboniera del tigullio 😘

Superb beach and incredible water, though to buy sunbeds is extremely expensive 200€+. A few restaurants that are expensive as well, but there is a free portion of the beach. Quiet in september. Would recommend for an incredible day at the beach

We happened upon this spot while walking to Portofino and could walk no further. We enjoyed delicious cocktails overlooking the beautiful crystal clear water in Paraggi. The service was amazing and I must give a special shout out to Andrea for his warmth and enthusiasm. We enjoyed our time so much that we had to come back for a second visit and I’m sure we will return…

Fabulous place on Portofino mountain, nice terraces and superb sea views.

❤️

warm and cozy place for prayer

Had a great experience at San Fruttuoso!! We stayed at the beach for a while before we decided to go exploring along the coast. We followed a path and climbed down some rocks down to the sea and swam from there. We accidentally found the Christ statue about 15 metres out from the coast, a really cool surprise! I’ve never seen water this blue and clear before. Definitely recommend bringing glasses or a snorkelling set, so you can look at all the fish and cool stuff under the surface (and avoid jellyfish…)

The perfect day in the water at Piaggi! Just 10 minutes away from Portofino lies this little jewel. Grab a few sun chairs, let the kids play safely on the sandy beach while you order a bottle of your favourite rose. Delicious but simple food selection. No it’s not cheap but you didn’t come all this way to not experience it.

Nice dog beach, my dog didn’t behave so he watched the fun from the corner