I will be arriving at the port city of Savona on the Ligurian coast by cruise ship and have only 6 hours to go somewhere pretty. Savona is industrial. Rapallo and San Remo would take too long so I'm looking at villages nearby. We love antiquities, Roman ruins, medieval towns & architecture and want to have some sights to see as well as a nice ocean front bar to finish the afternoon with. I've been looking at Finale Ligure, Albenga & Alassio. They are short train rides away. I have no interest in Genoa or Savona. Any suggestions?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16232 posts
In order of distance from Savona these are the best spots on the Riviera di Ponente (Western Riviera): Bergeggi, Spotorno, Noli, Varigotti, Finale. Not because of the history or ruins, but because they are among the prettiest seaside resort villages in Liguria. The sea is gorgeous too. I like Noli and Varigotti the best, but Finale is also very nice and a little bigger. By train you can go to Finale and Spotorno. for the others you might need a bus from the Spotorno station. Varigotti is closer to Finale.
Posted by
OP
Sacramento, Ca, US
144 posts
Thanks, Roberto. I have decided upon Albenga. It looks like it has everything we enjoy and also looks pretty. Isn't Albenga a pretty town also?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16232 posts
Don't care much for Albenga. I had relatives there (maybe that's why :)) but I usually preferred Laigueglia in that area. Maybe I was always turned off by that the rail yard near the beach that separates the city from the coast. It gave me the sensation of being in an industrial city rather than a resort town. The old city center is quaint though.
Posted by
OP
Sacramento, Ca, US
144 posts
Thank you, Roberto. That makes perfect sense! We do need to take the train and don't have enough time for changing to buses or walking very far. That's why I narrowed it down to towns on the main line. Maybe we'll go to Finale Ligure instead.