One of the first weekends here in Florence, some classmates and I took a day trip to Portovenere, an old town on the Ligurian coast of Italy. We figured we had to take a trip to the sea while the weather was still nice, and Alessia (a SRISA staff member) had informed us that Portovenere was a must-see hidden treasure of Italy. Alessia is amazing; she gave us recommendations on the best way to get there, and things to see once we arrive. This was so helpful considering it was one of our first weekends in Florence and we weren’t sure the best ways to get around yet.

At 6 am we hopped on a train from Florence to La Spezia, from which we took a ferry to Portovenere. Portovenere is a medieval fishing village known for its coastal landscapes and ancient ruins. It overlooks the Bay of Poets, and is home to the Doria Castle, Church of Saint Peter, and the Basilica of San Lorenzo. Basically, it’s an incredible and beautiful little town.