San Giorgio: The Small Luxury Hotel in Portofino

San Giorgio is a small luxury hotel in Portofino, a charming seaside town on the Italian Riviera. I've never forgotten my first trip to this quaint port with all the fishing boats, friendly people, women tatting (or perhaps making lace) on the sidewalks and many little cafes. This hotel's features are typical of the area's Ligurian (Riviera) architecture and it blends age old tradition, modern technology and truly excellent service. The San Giorgio Hotel is situated in a relaxing location in the shade of the trees between the mountains of Portofino and the fishermen's houses along the coast.

I love the Italian Riviera and have been blessed to be able to visit it for it's here where my parent's families are from. I have been privileged to eat in their homes and play with their children. So I chose the San Giorgo Hotel in Portofino, in part, because of my love for the area. It's is also one of less than 400 hotels worldwide that belong to the prestigious "Small Luxury Hotels of the World" group. It is indeed a very special place to relax in while enjoying the Italian Riviera.

San Giorgio is situated very close to the very well known "piazzetta" (square) in Portofino. This town is considered one of Italy's jewels; in fact, it's frequently called "the pearl of the Mediterranean Sea" and you'll find this seacoast town on many posters, prints and paintings all over the world. The San Giorgio Hotel is only 20 miles from the Genoa Airport. The scenery on the drive from Genoa to Portofino is simply breathtaking.

It's a small hotel with only 18 rooms and 7 suites, each of which was recently renovated still keeping with the Ligurian style. The rooms feature air conditioning, satellite pay TV, a mini bar, hair dryers (no blowing up of hair dryers with your converter here!), bathrobes and safe deposit boxes; the suites might include a balcony, a view of the harbour, and all offer a sitting area, fresh flowers and a fruit basket. All stays include a full breakfast every morning. There is a bar on the premises but no restaurant; breakfast in served in a room decorated in all shades of yellow near the lobby, or, can be served in your guest room. There is also a sauna and a Turkish bath on the property. Meeting rooms are available for small conferences and meetings.

The Italian Riviera is the coast to the west and east of Genoa, Liguria, and extends from France to the Tuscan region of Italy. The Italian word "Riviera" includes the Riviera di Levante, from Genoa toward Tuscany, and the Riviera di Ponente, from Genoa to France. The Riviera di Ponente ends at Ventimiglia, which was once a former customs post for traffic with France. A part of the Riviera di Ponente centered in Savona, is called "Riviera delle Palme" (Palms Riviera); another part, centered in Sanremo, is called "Riviera dei Fiori," because of production of flowers. The Italian Riviera is famous for its mild climate and is a much frequented tourist destination even in the off-season. It's best to avoid it in July and August because it's very crowded then. Many of the names of the towns and villages will be familiar to you - Rapallo, San Remo, and Cinque Terre.

In addition to visiting the area's beaches, browsing through the shops and dining in the nearby restaurants, there are many other activities to enjoy. There is fishing and all types of water sports, an indoor and an outdoor pool are nearby, tennis, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, horse racing, and various excursions you can take. You might also rent a scooter to use in exploring the area.

Ciao!