Liguria lies in the northwest Italy between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Maritime Alps. The region is characterized by its impressive mountains with its original mountain villages, small bays, picturesque little port towns and impressive hiking trails. Even though the Italian Riviera of Flowers enjoys countless visitors every year, there are some parts of Liguria that are still almost undiscovered. But we don't want to deprive you of these.

Here you will find a few insider tips of the Italian region.

The small coastal town of Imperia

The traditional province is one of the sunniest regions of Italy and was created by merging the towns of Porto Maurizio and Oneglia. Imperia is not a typical tourist town. People live and work here all year round and even in winter the town is full of life. It offers a good selection of restaurants, shops, sandy beaches and the typical bagnos. Imperia's port, which is well worth a visit, once served as the setting for the film Bourne Identity.

Charming Borgomaro

High up in the hills of the province of Imperia, not far from the coast, lies the sleepy village of Borgomaro. The small houses are lined uphill in the typical Ligurian style. In the middle is the village square with a church and a small grocery store. Here the children and young people meet in the evening. A little bit you feel like in a time travel. The crumbling plaster of the houses, the church bells that ring every hour and announce the time, the silence and yet bustle of the small town, that all has a calming effect and you have the feeling to have arrived. A bridge leads over the Impero river directly to the Relais del Maroan albergo diffuso.

Albergo Diffuso - the preservation of mountain villages

The concept behind the so-called Albergo Diffuso is to save villages from decay. Many places in Italy have been depopulated by earthquakes or other natural events. At some point, people have given up trying to rebuild their homes. Italian tourism consultant Gian-Carlo Dall'Ara's idea was to put an end to this dying. By rebuilding the houses and at the same time creating holiday apartments and houses, the inhabitants could refinance their expenses and the villages remained intact. Guests have the opportunity to participate in the life of a historic mountain village while enjoying the amenities of a hotel.

Relais del Maro

If you want to enjoy the picturesque ambience and immerse yourself in the life of the Italian province, the best place to stay is at the Relais del Maro. The cozy and authentic hotel has fourteen rooms distributed among three historic buildings in the village of Borgomaro. The host family Scalambrin is deeply rooted in the place. Motivated to continue telling the stories of their ancestors and to preserve the culture and tradition of the place. This is how the Relais del Maro was born, with its countless loving details and the desire to share all this with its guests. It is a magical place where many regular customers appreciate the special hospitality of the Scalambrin family.

Relais del Maro
Via Guglieri Ambrogio, 1, 18021 Borgomaro IM, Italy
Tel: +39 0183 54350

Picture Credits: Relais del Maro, Riccardo Bandiera, Stefany Seipp, dexmac / Pixabay