Dramatic coastal settings, richly colored houses perched with stage-set perfection by snug harbors, rustic seaside cuisine and a seductive dolce far niente ambiance are just some of the reasons spots like Portofino and Cinque Terre have long been among the most sought-after destinations in the world. (And sought after they are; pre-Covid some 2.5 million tourists reportedly descended on Cinque Terre each year.)

While these seaside havens are not to be missed, keep in mind there are other glorious resorts along Liguria’s fabled Riviera coastline that offer magical settings, minus some of the throngs. Sestri Levante, roughly midway between Portofino and Cinque Terre on the Gulf of Tigullio, is one of these places, even though it’s been a popular vacation getaway for decades. Many Italians come here, and Europeans do too. Americans have been discovering it as well, and for good reason.