The Golfo dell'Isola, in western Liguria, is a tourist area with the towns of Spotorno, Noli, Bergeggi and Vezzi Portio.
Safe waters and a biodiverse ecosystem
With a concentration of Blue Flag beaches, historical routes, outdoor sports and panoramas that are for year-round exploring, this part of Liguria has an impelling, identity-rich and heroic story to tell. The Golfo dell’Isola beaches all fly the Blue Flag and the Green Flag awards that attest to quality, safety and attention to families. The heart of this seascape is the Isola di Bergeggi Protected Marine Area, an ecosystem rich in biodiversity that can be explored on guided snorkelling, diving, kayaking and educational trails.
Outdoor activities and sporting events
The Golfo dell’Isola is a reference destination for outdoor activities in Liguria. Trails, climbing walls, mountain bike trails and water activities make it a true open-air gym, and it is also a well-known trail running paradise. The Golfo dell’Isola Trail, a stage of the Golden Trail World Series, attracts athletes from all over Europe, as does Swim the Island, one of the leading open-water swimming competitions in Europe which is held every year in Bergeggi.
From culture to agriculture
Noli, an ancient Maritime Republic, has ancient towers, walls, the Castle of Monte Ursino and the Romanesque church of San Paragorio. Spotorno, which is a popular holiday resort, has long welcomed artists and writers with its churches, oratories and lively cultural life. Vezzi Portio tells the story of agricultural Liguria, with dry stone walls, rural paths and the Museum of the Territory and of Bees.
Tasty local specialties and annual events
The local cuisine reflects the landscape with products from the land and the sea, recipes handed down from generation to generation, and a focus on seasonality and sustainability. From salted anchovies to Ligurian-style rabbit, and from stuffed vegetables to inland goat cheeses, these are dishes that can still be found in the local osterias, farmsteads and on the menus of the best restaurants in the Gulf. The Gulf hosts many year-round sporting events such as the Golfo dell'Isola Trail and Swim the Island, as well as cultural events such as the Bergeggi MareFest, Festival of the Wind, Moby Dick Festival, Witches Trail, Noli Music Festival, and many historical re-enactments and maritime activities for all ages.
