Making the most of Portovenere
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
As cruise ships are not able to dock, you will be tendered ashore.
A picture-perfect Italian town that serves as the gateway to the fabled Cinque Terre coast, where five hamlets cling to the steep cliffs connected by a foot path
Printable map to take along.
The church of S. Pietro: According to some archaeologists, during pagan times the site used to be a temple to Venus Erycina (From which the name Portus Veneris derives). The temple was then transformed during the first years of Christianity into a Christian temple. In 1256 ad. The Genoese built the church of S. Pietro over the early Christian temple, to thank the inhabitants of Porto Venere for their help in taking Lerici castle. They followed a new style known as gothic-genoese.
Getting around
The Cinque Terre: by boat or on foot. Just buy a ticket at the pier and wait for the next departure instead of buying a cruise organized tour. Not to be missed!
Nearby places
La Spezia
Food and shopping
The waterfront has fish restaurants and cafes.
Money
Euro
Staying connected
Language: Italian
Emergency nr: 112.
Opening Hours and
Opening Hours and Holidays: Most shops and businesses in Italy open from Monday to Saturday from around 8am until 1pm, and from about 4pm until 7pm, though many shops close on Saturday afternoons and Monday mornings, and in the south the day can begin and end an hour later. In the north some businesses work to a 9am-5pm day to facilitate international dealings. Traditionally, everything except bars and restaurants closes on Sunday, though most towns have a pasticceria open in the mornings, while in large cities and tourist areas, Sunday opening is becoming more common.