Levanto: An Eclectic Town, Full of Surprises
Levanto: An Eclectic Town, Full of Surprises
While researching areas to stay near Cinque Terre, we came across Levanto in an online travel forum. A few travelers had suggested it as an alternative to staying in one of the 5-Terre villages of Cinque Terre.
We had originally planned to stay in Riomaggiore, but accommodation was limited so we had to start looking elsewhere.
Upon first glance, Levanto reminded us of the Italian version of Amsterdam. The locals seem laid back and it appears that everyone rides a bike or drives a tiny pickup truck where the cab is no bigger than the front seat of a golf cart.
There is no shortage of small markets selling fresh fruit, Italian and French cheese, an unlimited assortment of local wines and our favorite, prosciutto. It was a food and wine heaven for three glorious days. I don’t know about you, but we get tired of eating in restaurants all the time.
It was also the first time we had ever seen jellyfish that look like a blue condom. They were all over the beach and floating in the water on this particular day.
We were originally drawn to Levanto because it is known as a surf town. The Italian coast is not a place I would expect to find waves or surf shops, but You Tube videos prove that Levanto does indeed get swell.
We didn’t find any surf during our stay, but we did find something more than just a promise of waves. Levanto has a local vibe to it, which was a nice change of pace from the bustling tourist town of Taormina, Sicily.
Levanto is the kind of place that we could stay and live for a while. I’m just not so sure how I would feel about surfing with all those jellies in the water.
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Looks like a really cool find!
I’ve never seen any jellyfish like that before! I had no idea they could be that blue – Mary
That jelly looks like something they’d serve for dinner in Japan. In fact, they probably do!
I loved the Cinque Terre but I never made it to Levanto as I focused on the five main towns. I’d love to explore more of the area.
Never made it to Levanto last time, will have to put it on the list for my next visit to Italy. I really enjoyed Taormina though. I drove across Sicily a couple of years ago and Taormina was one of my favourites.
Blue condom, hmmm? That’s one wide one for sure. The town is alluringly colorful. I never get into the waters in Italy though. I’m too spoiled that I grew up around cleaner and clearer, sandy beaches leading to the ocean. Speaking of which, I don’t doubt you’ll have fun in Hawaii. Great waves there.
Levanto is a special place for me even though I have never walked through it. I took a trip to Cinque Terre many years ago and on the train out we stopped in Levanto for a few minutes. Just in that time I was able to sketch the clocktower into a notebook that I still have. So every so often I flip through it and remember.
We were in CT a few years ago and marveled at the blue jellies too. So weird.
Ahhhhh no way would I get in the water! I have so many random nightmarish memories of looking down and seeing tons of jellyfish and running to the shore screaming. Hazard of beach living, I know. Your photos are gorgeous!
That jellyfish scares me. I don’t want it near me. I have seen purple ones in Hungtinton Beach.
Those blue jellyfish are crazy! At a first glance, I thought they were plastic bottles, but I looked again and, you’re right, they look more like blue condoms 🙂
Sounds like a neat town! And those jelly fish are crazy! I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen one, but definitely not one that color.
Jellies that look like blue condoms! That is hilarious and a bit scary. Gorgeous pics.
You always find such colorful little alleyways to photograph!
Bad bad jellyfish! With that color, makes me want to play with them. I don’t think that would be a good idea!
The rest of the colors in Levanto look pretty inviting! 🙂
Those jellyfish look super strange – definitely like a blue condom. I don’t think I’d walk on the beach with a bunch of those around, let alone get in the water!