Calabria > Levanto

Levanto

Immersed in the green of olive groves and vineI yards, dotted with ancient country hamlets that still preserve their original characteristics and are linked by about 70 kilometres of footpaths, the Levanto valley fans out over a wide gulf offering visitors long shingle beaches that can boast the most modem of bathing establishments and a centre offering services for sailing.

The completely pedestrianised restored historic centre and the new area with its lively network of shops and public amenities make this town the perfect setting for a peaceful, all-comfort holiday with a discreet amount of entertainment on offer, especially during summer evenings. A b sense of contact between the sea and inland areas and a great feeling of hospitality; proud of its oldest traditions but welcoming the new, Levanto is the Slow-city of "goodliving" that manages to arouse emotions in its visitors all year round.

The seaside: an emotion for every season

I evanto and its sea: inseparable not only during the L holiday season. In summer its beaches are the focal point of this town by day and night. A few hours' sunbathing lying on the comfortable sunbeds of the bathing establishments, a swim in crystal clear waters, which have been awarded "four sails" by Legambiente (Environment League), a canoe ride or an excursion on a characteristic Ligurian gozzo fishing boat to discover the tiny coves and unspoilt grottoes hidden along the coastline, scuba dive down to the bottom of the sea at Mesco, in the protected marine area or take a boat trip to the Cinque Terre. Then after dinner, on the beach again to round off the day by recreating the magic atmosphere of Caribbean nights. But the sea lives on even without the sun; when the waves rise the gulf fills with doiens of surf boards, while from the promenade a curious, fascinated crowd follows the acrobatics of the young virtuosi of this sport, undisputed leading actors in this "Californian" show that has no walk-on parts.