The village is built around a bay, with tall, colourful houses set against the small harbour and the piazzetta, and its whole territory is part of the Portofino Regional Natural Park.
Portofino can be visited at any time of year, though tourists most appreciate it during the summer months, when the flora is at its peak.
The Church of San Giorgio, named after Portofino's patron saint, dates from the 12th century. Inside are relics brought back by sailors after the Crusades, and its churchyard looks out over the bay.
A footpath climbs from the Piazzetta to Castello Brown, a fortress in the middle of a hanging garden, and continues to the lighthouse on Punta del Capo, which overlooks the entire bay.
The medieval Abbey of San Fruttuoso is surrounded by vegetation; according to legend, it was built by five Spanish monks fleeing from Arab-invaded Tarragona.
Along about 15 km (9 miles) of the promontory's coast, the Portofino Marine Protected Area covers 376 hectares of sea, where you can see Portofino's red coral.
Portofino can also be reached by sea on the Portofino & Cinque Terre Boat Tour from La Spezia.
Boats leave frequently from the seafront promenades of Rapallo and Santa Margherita Ligure, or from Camogli and Genoa.
Every year on 23 April, with a procession and a final bonfire that lights up the Piazzetta.
Genoa is 18.6 miles (30 km (19 miles)) away and the Cinque Terre 31 miles (50 km (31 miles)).
