Unspoilt Italy: The Liguria

There is no denying that Italy is a simply stunning country to visit. The amazing food as well as extraordinary culture makes this a popular destination to travel to. However, it can be easy to feel as though some parts have been spoilt by the sheer amount of tourists visiting. For example, Venice has recently had a lot off issues with tourists, with many locals acting hostile towards people from different countries visiting. So where can you visit that will provide you with an authentic taste of Italia?

The northern part of Italy is fairly unexplored by many tourists. The Liguria is a simply stunning destination which is full of different valleys and vineyards.

Imperia is a small town, located about two hours form the border of France and Italy. Often it is quicker to fly into France and either drive across, or get the train into Italy. Nice is the best place the fly into in order to visit the Liguria. Flights to Nice are very cheap, with return flights from London available for £50. Transport links into Italy from France are often very efficient and luxurious compared to here in the UK. Trains are very reasonably priced as well, with a one hour and 30-minute train from Nice to Imperia costing €15. Trainline has a European section on their website where you can click onto in order to view the majority of trains in Europe which is very handy and avoids any problems with buying the wrong ticket at the local station due to the language barrier.

Not many people speak English here as the area really is not very touristy, with most people visiting the area being other Italians. Make sure that you carry around a pocket Italian phrasebook so that you can communicate with the locals and ask for help if need be.

Ordering food can be tricky, which is why we recommend the google translate App which allows you to use your phone camera to take a picture of the menu, with the app translating all of the text on the picture into English. Pizza and pasta really are the best things to try, and we can guarantee that any pizza you eat here will be the best you've ever tried.

The rock pools of Lechiore are located about a 30-minute drive from Imperia, and you will have to park up about a mile from the rocks pools due to the pack being too rocky and uneven to drive on. Once you reach the rock pools, you will want to jump in straight away due to the inviting crystal clear waters, as well as the beautiful scenery. These are a great place to get a picture for your Instagram feed!

Cycling is a big thing out in the Liguria, due to the high altitude and steep hills of the valley. Be sure to hire bikes one day from Imperia, and cycle up to the smalls towns and villages up inside the valley. We recommend hiring electric bikes, as it can be extremely challenging to cycle up the steep hills without help. Be sure to pack a picnic when you embark on your cycle ride, as there are some stunning places to stop along the way for a bite to eat, including the small village of Dolcedo. This village has a few different restaurants and bars for you to to stop off and grab a drink of bite to eat, which you will probably want as a result of the high intensity of the cycling.

The great thing about the Liguria is that the locals are all very pleasant and happy to see you, as well as being patient and willing to help you if you are stuck with something. The valleys are not a view to be missed out on, and you really do feel as if you have seen the true Italy, rather than commercialised cities. So if this sounds appealing to you then go ahead and book your flights today.