Palmaria Island, Portovenere

We take a morning ferry from Monterosso al Mare to Portovenere, switching to a smaller ferry for the short ride over to Palmaria Island (Isola Palmaria).  Walking past the beaches that face Portovenere, we start to hike around the island, first climbing the hill facing the beaches and Portovenere, with changing views of the sea and the city.

Isola Palmaria

Our ferry arrives in Portovenere

Walking over to the Palmaria ferry

Our small ferry leaves for Palmaria

Looking across the harbor to Portovenere

We start up the hill

With glimpses of the sea

And views back of Portovenere and the coast toward Monterosso

The trail levels off as we reach the peak and we come upon the old forts that were once prominent on this island in the second half of the 19th century, with two and three different levels of fortification for fallback.

Trail now more horizontal than vertical

Current inhabitants of the forts

The trail around the island continues past the forts and starts to head back down to the harbor, curving around the edge of the island.

Trail descends gently

Portovenere reappears

Back at the harbor, we catch the return ferry back to Portovenere and head over to our favorite place on the harbor, Al Gabbiano, for lunch, where we share Pizza Portovenere and Pizza Diavola.

Pizza for lunch

After lunch, we take a stroll down Via Giovanni Cappelini to view the shops before our ferry back to Monterosso, stopping (but not getting off) at four of the five Cinque Terre villages.

Isola Palmaria across the way

Shopping stroll

Ferry jouney up the coast

Arriving in Monterosso

Another day of adventure in this magical land!