Sestri Levante, Italy

Since I spend most weekends at my house in Sestri Levante, it seems fitting that the first real post on my blog is dedicated to this quaint town. While Portofino and the Cinque Terre are probably the most well known destinations on the Italian Riviera, Sestri Levante is a favorite among Italians. In the past few years, it has become almost impossible to walk in town on the weekends. The narrow streets are packed with people that come for a weekend stroll and stop leisurely check out the trendy shop windows or to get an ice cream or piece of focaccia. Note: the focaccia you find in Liguria is like no other focaccia you will ever eat. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend stopping by in Recco to try their specialty: Focaccia al formaggio. It is made with stracchino (a very soft, mild cheese), which is spread between almost paper thin dough. My favorite is focaccia pizzata, which adds just a touch of red sauce, capers and olives on top. One of the most famous restaurants for focaccia al formaggio is Manuelina, but if you don't feel like having a meal you can probably find it in just about any bakery in Recco.

Getting back to the topic of this post, I will just give a brief description of the photo I put up in the test post. It is the peninsula of Sestri Levante, with its beautiful Baia del Silenzio (also known as "Portobello").

Check back soon for more photos of Sestri and many other places in Italy!