Sestri Levante

Sestri Levante occupies a headland that was once an island, now joined to the shore by a low neck of land, so the town has a bay on each side. The northern one, sheltered and quiet, is the Baia del Silenzio; the southern, open and used by boats, is the Baia delle Favole, the Bay of Fables, named in 1958 for Hans Christian Andersen, who stayed in the town in 1833 and wrote about it. The town runs an international children's storytelling prize in his name. A path climbs the old island to a hotel park with views over both bays and along the coast.

History

Once a small island, later joined to the mainland, the town was Roman Segesta Tigullorum, perhaps belonging to the Ligurian Tigullii, and it was nearly abandoned when the empire collapsed. It is mentioned again in 909 in a charter of Berengar I, and in 1133 it placed itself under the Republic of Genoa for protection; in 1145 the Genoese acquired the abbey of San Colombano, later turned into a castle (Wikipedia, Sestri Levante).

What you'll find

• The Baia del Silenzio - a sheltered curved bay of small boats and houses.
• The Baia delle Favole - the open bay named for Andersen in 1958.
• The former island - a headland joined to the shore by a narrow neck.
• The Andersen prize - a children's storytelling award run by the town.

When to go

May to September; both bays are crowded in August. The Andersen festival runs in June. Spring and autumn are quieter with the coastal paths open.

Practical notes

The Baia del Silenzio is small and packed in high season despite the name. Parking is difficult in summer. The town's outskirts are ordinary.

Nearby

The Cinque Terre lie southeast; Portofino is northwest.

Key facts