A day off the Cinque Terra track after Hazel's and my 7 hr effort yesterday!
A ferry down the coast to Porto Venere, a great way to see the continuing mountainous terrain that drops steeply into the sea. Those who build and till the soil here are a hardy lot! The landslides during the 2011 storms and floods are still obvious.
Porto Venere is a UNESCO site - a fortified village built in the 12th Century by the Genovese as a boundary stronghold. the economy was based on sailing, seafaring, agriculture and marble mining. Today tourism and mussel cultivation.
The landscape is beautiful with with bays and inlets as well as a rugged face to the open sea.
The church of San Pietro stands like a ship on the ocean on the narrow point at the entrance to the bay. A palawo-Christian, Romanesque church & it's annexed monastery were built over a Roman temple dedicated to Venus. In the 1200's there was a reno using black & white marble to give it a gothic appearance. The cross vaulted ceiling, steeple, escape from interior adornment and spectacular views from its position on the sea are worth a visit!
Great swimming spot in a rocky bay adjacent to both church and castle. Lord Byron obviously made an impression here swimming across the channel near the church to the island - it won him a marble plaque!
The castle and walls, and nearby Fort are also spectacular in size, position and great state of repair. Great spot for concerts and big events!
San Lorenzo is the name of my family property near Naracoorte in S Aust, and while churches of the same name are all over the place, this one got to me!
Set in the San Lorenzo piazza, it was built by the Genovese in 1116, has 3 naves, an octagonal dome, Renaissance presbytery, gothic transept.....anyway, I loved it!
Inside is some exquisite art, including Syrian ivory caskets & 15th Century effigies of the white Madonna.
All the kids have just finished school, and you could smell the hormones in the air, as well as see all the gorgeous young things parading for one another, the odd game of water polo, beach soccer.
Losing yourself in the narrow winding streets of the town is easy, fun, and seemingly steep steps, always UP.
Porto Venere worth a visit, but happy we were staying in Riomaggiore.