City of Sestri Levante Automatic translate

This is the Italian St. Tropez, the pearl of the Italian Riviera and the most elegant city of Liguria. Sestri Levante is located on a miniature peninsula surrounded by two bays: the Gulf of Silence and the Gulf of Fairy. They got such names thanks to children’s writers Hans Christian Andersen, who loved this city, and came here to be inspired to write another genius tale.

Gulf of Silence you, without knowing it, probably saw more than once. The fact is that a lot of commercials were shot here, including for such world giants as Coca-Cola and Nike, which were then played on TV in different countries of the world.

And indeed, this is a fabulous place. For me at least. When I got to Sestri Levante for the first time, I experienced a sense of deja vu, I had the feeling that I had once seen the sea, these ancient houses, somehow built right on the sand on the beach, and these are incredibly beautiful bays, but I still did not understand where - in my childhood dreams or later - in dreams of a beautiful life.

Sestri Levante is a very ancient city. He appeared during the Roman Empire, even before the birth of Christ. This city personally gives me some inner peace, so I always come back here. For me, this city - intelligent, beautiful and intelligent - is like an evening at the opera, I don’t know how to explain it better. According to the description that I gave, it may seem that this is some pathos, but this is not at all! Unlike Portofino, Sestri Levante is very democratic and relaxed, there are both cheap and expensive shops, restaurants, hotels. Just its streets, embankment, buildings - everything is filled here with grace and tranquility.

Since I know Sestri Levante well, I would like to share practical information: where to go, what to do, where to have dinner. I’ll tell you about my favorite places.

First off, I’ll start with the beaches. Unlike other nearby cities, in Sestri Levante are not pebble, but sandy beaches, which, you see, is much more pleasant. In addition, there are both free and private beaches in Fairy Bay. The cost of renting two sun loungers and one umbrella varies from 30 to 70 euros per day. What is convenient in the case of a private beach is the ability to use free internet. Sestri Levante is the first city in Liguria to receive free wireless internet in all public areas. I often combined business with pleasure and worked on a private beach on the computer, taking breaks for swimming in the sea, and I was always sure that my things would remain intact while I take sea baths.

If traveling with children, then you should go to the Bagni Liguria beach, because there they organize a lot of entertainment for children: performances, concerts, animators work. In particular, it is safe for children there, because the seabed is flat and there are lifeguards on the beach who are always closely watching what is happening around. I also like this beach because it offers a beautiful view of the bay from one side, and from the other - onto a picturesque hill with a medieval castle, which is now converted into a hotel.

There are many hotels of different price categories in Sestri Levante, so there is a place for tourists with different budgets. For example, there is a campsite where you can stay in a tent for two for 20 euros per night, or rent a bungalow (300 euros per week).

For the demanding public, there are several grand hotels in the city in which the cost of a room can reach 800 euros per night.

For example, the four-star Grand Hotel dei Castelli is located in a middle-aged castle on a hill that dominates both bays of Sestri Levante, the most privileged place in the city. The cost for a double room is from 220 to 280 euros per night. Breakfast is included. An interesting feature - there is an elevator made right in the mountain, which will take you from the bay - from the center of the city - directly to the hill. The elevator will also take you to the restaurant at the hotel, where they cook deliciously, plus the bonus is just a stunning view from the window.

Grand Hotel Villa Balbi, four stars. I myself lived there for a week - this is an old villa with a beautiful park and pool, located right in the center of the city overlooking the sea. Beautiful bedrooms with high ceilings, purely Italian style. The name of the hotel - Balbi - is the surname of an old count family, who previously owned the villa. Who the current owner is is a mystery covered in darkness.

Helvetia, four stars, is a charming hotel located on a cliff in the Bay of Silence. The smallest double room costs in the high season from 220 to 240 euros per night (per room overlooking the park). But you can choose a room with a view of the sea and the bay - it will cost more: from 270 to 300 euros per night in high season.

Hotel "Vis a Vis", four stars. Hotel on a hill in the city center. There is a multi-kilometer staircase - a road that starts from the city center and goes through the hills to the bay, which can only be reached by sea in another way. You are provided with a 3 hour walk with stunning views. As for the hotel, from its territory opens such a view of the Fairy Bay and Portofino, which is breathtaking. It’s just that the hotel is located so high that you can see nearby cities.

It’s time for an aperitif. In Sestri Levante, I advise you 7 places where you should go for an aperitif.

Millelire is a simple bar, but in my opinion it makes the most delicious cocktails in town. Young people and students come here, the atmosphere is party and binding. A cocktail costs 5-7 euros. The bar is located on the "carujo", that is, on the central pedestrian street of the city.

The Asia Cafe is located literally 4 meters from the previous bar. There is a rich buffet for an aperitif: there are different types of snacks, for example, salted pies, pasta, rice - all this is included in the price of the aperitif. Prices: 6-8 euros per cocktail.

There is a third bar in the Bay of Silence - it is located under the Helvetia Hotel at the very end of the bay. The terrace of the bar is located directly on the cliff. You are sitting in the open air and you have stunning views of the bay, the sea and yachts. Prices: 8-10 euros per cocktail.

The fourth place that I can advise you is Ottagono. The bar is located at the end of the Sestri Levante promenade, and it is so called because it has an octagonal shape and is located directly on the beach. From there, you can - while you are drinking a delicious cocktail - get, as a bonus, the opportunity to watch a beautiful sunset. Price: 6-8 euros per cocktail.

Another place for an aperitif - more binding - is the La Cantinetta del Polpo winery. A very large selection of wines, mainly Italian, and including local wines. The winery is located at the beginning of "Carujo" - the main street on which shops and restaurants are located. Wine - from 20 euros per bottle.

This year they opened a new bar, which I also really liked - this is Aperipesce. The name is a combination of the words “aperitif” and “fishing”. This is an impromptu bar on a large fishing boat. At night and in the morning, fishermen go to sea, and in the evening they make an aperitif with what they caught. It costs 8 euros - for a cocktail and fish. You need to look for a bar on the city pier - a boat arrives there every evening.

Where to have dinner?

Definitely, in “Polpo Mario” (Polpo Mario) - a fish restaurant, whose name means “octopus Mario”. It’s better to dress decent here. A fairly expensive restaurant - from 80 euros per person (without wine), that is, each dish costs about 20 euros (although the portions are large enough, so you can get cheaper). Here is the freshest fish in the city, because the restaurant’s staff includes fishermen who fish at night to serve it to customers the next day.

This is one of the most famous and historical restaurants in Sestri Levante. Its owner - Rudy Chuffardi - published a biographical book about his restaurant, which he inherited from his father and in which he spent almost all his childhood. She sold well in Italy. The book is called - "How I Lived with Love and an Octopus."

The El Pescador Restaurant is located on the city boat pier in Fairy Bay. A delicious fish restaurant with fresh fish. Prices - 70 euros per person without wine. Beautiful view of the sea, the yachts, the beach.

Restaurant “Osteria mattana” - the restaurant is very simple, but insanely tasty. Here you can eat only Ligurian cuisine. Simple long wooden tables, so you can’t get a place for two - you have to share a table with your neighbors. On Mondays, the restaurant hosts live jazz concerts. Sitting here will cost 20-30 euros per person. This restaurant is also located in "corujo" - on the main street of the city.

What is Ligurian cuisine? Minestrone - vegetable soup, Verdure ripen - vegetables (zucchini, onions, potatoes) with meat, cakes made of rice and farinata - thin cakes of lentil flour. Liguria is located on the hills, so initially it was difficult to engage in agriculture in this region of Italy, so the Ligurians are accustomed to Spartan, if not to say peasant cuisine.

What else to do in Sestri Levante? For lovers of nightlife there is one disco in the whole city - the disco-pub Skipper (Skipper). It is located on the city pier and there is a terrace overlooking the sea.

There are shopping opportunities in the city - there are many clothing stores, jewelry and accessories of various price categories. Super-sales take place at the beginning of August - “at Zbarassu”, as it is called: shops liquidate unsold goods, putting the entire remaining assortment on the street with a 70% discount.

In the summer there are many city holidays, concerts. In the spring there is the Hans Christian Andersen festival: artists from around the world show their talents on the streets of the city for one week.

There is even a Hawaiian holiday when a disco is organized on the sea and all people dress like Hawaiians. Therefore, having arrived on this day in Sestri, do not be surprised if the streets of the city are filled with people in frivolous Hawaiian outfits.

Due to the mild climate, in winter there are also a lot of interesting things, such as equestrian polo and motocross competitions, which are arranged on the beach.

At first glance, Sestri Levante looks like a simple but elegant city. But curious people will find here a lot of interesting things, hidden from prying eyes. For example, above the city - on a hill - there is a church built in the first century AD, with which there is an endless view of the sea and many Ligurian cities with their marinas, beaches and piers.

Alexander Permyakov