Porto Venere is a lovely little town very close by so we decided to try taking the 30 minute bus ride over the hills. (I wouldn't have to wear a seat-belt and we wouldn't have to worry about parking.) Good choices. The ride was pleasant and there was no parking to be had anywhere near the city. Remember, no cars are allowed in these towns unless you are a resident and the law is strictly enforced!
The town is quite charming and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, nestled safely in the Bay of the Poets (Shelly and Byron had homes here). The castle, on the hilltop was constructed in the 11th century and it was part of Genoa's early fortification system when Italy consisted of warring city states before it became united. There is also a well maintained church from around the same period.
Aside from the castle which was used for military protection from other city states, Porto Venere was a typical fishing village and they have managed to preserve that essence today. Although transporting tourists by boat to Cinque Terre has replaced fishing as the number one maritime business. To visit Cinque Terre you must sail through a narrow passageway, where Porto Venere is situated, into the Mediterranean. When the seas are rough, as they have been for the last few days, the boats can not sail to Cinque Terre . You can only go by train. Looking at the narrow passage and the waves, you can understand why the boats don't take tourists out.
The sea is supposed to calm next week and we are hoping to sail to Cinque Terre because the views are supposed to be more spectacular from the sea and the boat docks right in the heart of the old towns.
Porto Venere is supposed to be an appetizer, in beauty, compared to the 5 other villages that make up Cinque Terre.
