Liguria: Santa Margherita Ligure

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Santa Margherita Ligure is a seaside town with Roman origins….there’s a lot of beauty in this lovely town and there’s something amazing in this seaside resort: trompe l’oeil…..check out the buildings as you walk along the seaside and throughout the village — they’ve painted columns, shutters, balconies and balustrades on their buildings and they look real! This is a rare treat and this craft is making a comeback in this area. Young people are learning this ancient art from the masters and are using the same techniques and paints to preserve the art and the buildings….not to mention this ancient art. The promenade along the sea is a great place to people watch. The villas along the sea (built by the wealthy Genoese families in the 17^th century) are particularly beautiful and grand. Of note are the gardens of the Villa DurazzoCenturione that are open for visitors. In the center of town is the old parish church called Santa Margherita Vergine e Martire. Do check out the paraggi (houses clustered together that were owned by the fisherman — very distinctive). This is a place to enjoy the view, relax and look out to sea. Boat trips can be arranged year round to all of the villages along the coast. Market day in Santa Margherita Ligure is on Friday.