The Italian Riviera

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The Dream: Do you dream of owning a home where the weather is always mild, near beautiful beaches but within easy reach of the mountains? Do you enjoy relaxing but also want somewhere that has a lot happening when you feel like going out 'on the town'? Do you like shopping in picturesque, historic villages? Do you enjoy superb fresh food and wine and want to experience the Italian 'dolce vita'? Do you need easy access from major European airports?

The Reality: All this, and more, could be yours if you choose to buy a property on the Italian Riviera.

The location. The Italian Riviera lies between the French Riviera and Tuscany and it is surely considered one of the most exclusive Italian resorts where buying a property has always been a good investment. The western part of it, the 'Ponente Ligure' is known as the ‘Riviera dei fiori’ (the riviera of flowers) or the 'Riviera delle Palme' (the riviera of palm trees). San Remo, Alassio , Bordighera, Diano Marina, Cervo and Laigueglia are some of the famous places in the area. It was in Bordighera and Alassio where, from the middle of the 19th century, many upper class British people decided to build beautiful villas which have survived to this day. From Alassio, that lies in the middle of the Riviera di Ponente, it takes approximately an hour to reach the airport of Genoa or Nice by car (Hertz, Europcar, Avis) or by French/Italian trains or bus. They are served by the major European Carriers including Air France, British Airways, Alitalia, Ryanair and Easyjet .

The weather is pleasant throughout the year. The average winter temperatures are as high as 10°C (50°F), in the summer the temperatures are also very pleasant and not too hot thanks to a fresh sea breeze, averaging around 24°C (75°F).

Enjoy the Italian "Gioia di vivere". The beaches and sea are clean as local authorities control the environment very strictly. There is an International Whales Sanctuary and Whale Watching boat trips are available. Every summer around 2000 whales and thousands of other cetacean gather in the waters. Liguria has 13 nature reserves: 10 regional parks and three regional reserves. The coast is framed by a backdrop of hills and mountains which offer ample opportunity for walking, climbing, pony trekking and cycling as well as skiing in the winter months. Other sports on offer include tennis and golf at many clubs, fishing in the numerous rivers as well as paragliding, surfing, sailing, canoeing, cycling, horse riding etc. for the more adventurous. Most of the coastal resorts have a marina with mooring facilities. You can enjoy strolling around old fishing villages and, as the area is steeped in history, there are many sites that date back to mediaeval times. You will soon understand what “Gioia di vivere” means in Italian - cast off those worries and relax and enjoy life to the full. You don't have to eat at a five-star restaurant to find excellent food. In a “trattoria” you can sample home-made cooking, just like your “Italian mamma” would prepare, and drink very good quality wine at a reasonable price or enjoy the “vino della casa” (house wine) for as little as £4 a carafe. After a meal, treat yourself to a huge and delicious home made ice cream ‘cornetto’ for €1.50. You will have time to lose those calories having a "passeggiata" or dancing at a discotheque in the towns where night life continues until the early hours of the morning. And if you are looking for an exclusive restaurant, you will be spoilt for choice. For those in between snacks there is a wealth of “cafes” offering freshly-baked pastries for breakfast, after lunch 'espresso' or your “aperitivo”of an evening before dinner. What about spending an evening at the Casino in Montecarlo? If you do not want to drive (half an hour by motorway) you can take a train, which is good value and reliable.Try a slice of freshly-baked pizza or "farinata", a local specialty. The locals are quite traditional about their way of living and their food. You will probably find it very easy to adapt.This has just given you a tiny snapshot of life in Liguria, we could go on for hours, so in order to have more information about the area please see the following Internet sites.

http://www.inforiviera.it/inglese/index.cfm

http://www.initaly.com/regions/liguria/liguria.htm

http://www.premier.net/~Italy/Liguria.htm

http://www.made-in-italy.com/winefood/food/regions/liguria.htm

For any information please contact us: italianriviera@gmail.com or call 0044 (0) 2081334413