The seaport of Savona, in the Liguria region of north-west Italy, is well known for once being the home of Christopher Columbus. Situated on the ‘Italian Riviera’, it looks out over the Ligurian Sea with the Ligurian Alps lying to the north and the border with France a short distance to the west.

Places of interest include the Priamar Fortress which sits on a hilltop overlooking the city. Built in 1542, it later became a prison and now houses Savona’s archaeological museum. The magnificent Cattedrale dell’Assunta is located in the heart of the city not far from Savona’s very own Sistine Chapel. Savona is also home to some of the best Ligurian cuisine including the very popular farinata, a snack made from chickpeas.

Savona is also excellent for climbing, mountain biking and hiking activities. There’s a number of hiking trails around the city, whether it’s along the coast to Arenzano or further inland towards the Ligurian Alps. In addition, there are numerous cycling trails such as to the commune of Stella 35km inland. There are also daily whale-watching trips departing from Savona, available from July to September.