On the eastern side of Monte di Portofino headland stands the Golfo del Tigullio, a broad arc of a bay named after the local Tigullian tribe of pre-Roman antiquity. The gulf stretches 28km from the rocks and inlets around the millionaires' playground of Portofino and its friendlier neighbour Santa Margherita Ligure to head east along a dramatically beautiful – and densely touristed – coastline. In summer the main focus is the large resort of Rapallo.

The Consorzio Portofino Coast runs an information and hotel-booking service for the area, based at Via Lamarmora 17/6, Rapallo (0185.270.222, www.portofinocoast.it).