ITALY BIKE RIDE: Rapallo to Portofino 4K | Virtual Cycling Workout on the Italian Riviera

ITALY BIKE RIDE: Rapallo to Portofino 4K | Virtual Cycling Workout on the Italian Riviera

Welcome to Italy’s beautiful Ligurian Coast. We begin at Castello sul Mare, the “Castle-on-the-Sea,” built in 1551 to defend Rapallo from pirate attacks. We are now cycling along Rapallo’s scenic seafront, the Lungomare Vittorio Veneto. It’s the setting for the local Thursday market. Rapallo’s promenade stretches for nearly a kilometer along the Tigullio Gulf. The Golfo del Tigullio is home to several jewels of the Italian Riviera, including Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure, and Portofino. Rapallo is the largest resort on the Ligurian Riviera di Levante and is known for its mild climate and elegant seaside promenade. The Liguria region is famous for its cuisine, most notably Pesto Sauce (Pesto alla Genovese), made from local basil. The main towns along this coast are all connected by ferry, making it easy to hop between the beautiful villages without driving. The Ligurian Coast is part of the Italian Riviera. It extends from the border of France to the border of Tuscany. I rented an e-bike for this ride, but there was virtually no “E” to the bike. So, this ride went a little slower than expected. We will ride out to Portofino and then take a short walk down to the piazza. From there, we will turn around and ride back. We are now approaching the hamlet of San Michele in Pagana. The colorful houses are a trademark of Ligurian coastal towns. They were traditionally painted bright colors so fishermen could spot their homes from the sea. SAN MICHELE DI PAGANA is a beautiful, quiet frazione (hamlet) of Rapallo, believed to have roots dating back to Roman times. This little bay was historically part of the Tigullio Gulf’s defense system, together with the castles of Rapallo and Portofino. TRAVEL TIP: The beaches here are often less crowded than those in Rapallo or Santa Margherita Ligure and are known for their clear water. The climate here is classified as Mediterranean: dry, hot summers (like today!) and mild, rainy winters. The hillsides are often terraced with dry-stone walls, a traditional method used in Liguria for growing olives and grapes on the steep slopes. The SS227 is a famous cycling route, offering some of the best coastal views in Europe as it winds its way toward the Portofino peninsula. We are now approaching Santa Margherita Ligure, a port town along the way to Portofino. SANTA MARGHERITA LIGURE (SML) is nicknamed the “Pearl of Tigullio” for its elegance and picturesque harbor. Santa Margherita was annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1815 and became part of the unified Kingdom of Italy in 1861. SML was once two separate towns, Pescino and Corte, which were unified and renamed Porto Napoleone under French rule in 1813. Like Rapallo, SML built its own castle in 1550 to defend against North African pirate attacks, designed by the same architect. A lot of traffic today! The last time I did this ride, there were almost cars! Let’s pause here for a moment to take in the view. SML’s port is used for both tourism (ferries to Portofino/Cinque Terre) and fishing, keeping its traditional marine spirit alive. The town is home to the stunning Villa Durazzo, a 17th-century patrician villa set in a lovely park overlooking the sea. The town’s Basilica of St. Margaret of Antiochia was built starting in 1658 on the remains of a 13th-century church. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: You are passing a statue of the famous explorer, a native of Genoa, sculpted by Odoardo Tabacchi in 1892. The local Ligurian fishing boats are called gozzi. They are traditional wooden boats used along the entire coast. This is Banchina S. Erasmo, one of the wharves in SML’s port, where luxurious mega-yachts often dock alongside humble fishing vessels. The narrow, winding road ahead is typical of the Portofino peninsula and is what gives this ride its famous scenic charm. This long breakwater is the Molo Foraneo, the main outer mole of SML’s port, offering protection from strong southerly winds. Keep an eye out for the white yachts and fishing boats! SML is a key location for sailing and regattas on the Italian Riviera. From this viewpoint, you can appreciate the density of the coastal towns, where buildings are seamlessly integrated into the natural environment. The speed limit on roads like the SS227 is often low, prioritizing scenic appreciation and safety over fast travel. LIGURIA’S OIL: The Ligurian coast is known for its mild, delicate extra virgin olive oil, made from Taggiasca olives. The Ligurian Coast is divided into a western section, the Ponente Riviera, and an eastern section, the Levante Riviera, the point of division being the apex of the Ligurian arc at Voltri. Levante Riviera is defined by its rugged cliffs, turquoise coves and pastel seaside towns, including the colorful Cinque Terre fishing villages, as well as stylish resort areas like Portofino. The Italian Riviera crosses all four Ligurian provinces and their capitals Genoa, Savona, Imperia and La Spezia, with a total length of about 350 km (218 miles). It has about 1.6 million inhabitants, and most of the population is concentrated within the coastal area I am filming this ride by holding a DJI Osmo Pocket 3 in my left hand. The police up ahead are stopping every car as they drive by….and apparently, even bicyclists. They did not like me holding my camera while I rode my bike and told me I had to put it away. Well, we both know that’s not happening. 🙂 I had to ride around the corner to start filming again. The Italian Riviera is known for its historical association with international celebrity and artistic visitors. Writers and poets like Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, Ezra Pound, and Ernest Hemingway were inspired by the beauty and spirit of Liguria. The Italian Riviera benefits from over 300 days of sunshine per year. Almost the opposite from I live in WA state. The Riviera’s center is Genoa, which divides it into two main sections: the Riviera di Ponente (“the coast of the setting sun”), extending westwards from Genoa to the French border; and the Riviera di Levante (“the coast of the rising sun”) between Genoa and Capo Corvo. I started this day at my hotel in Genoa. The train ride is less than 30 minutes to Rapallo. Many villages of the Italian Riviera are counted among I Borghi più belli d’Italia (“The most beautiful villages of Italy”). I Borghi più belli d’Italia is a non-profit private association of small Italian towns of strong historical and artistic interest. Participants in the group are small population centres which risk neglect and abandonment because they lie outside the main tourist circuits. Initially they comprised about a hundred villages, but had increased to 361 in 2023. Welcome to Portofino! Portofino is a picturesque fishing village that has charmed visitors for centuries. Portofino is clustered around its small harbor, and is known for the colorfully painted buildings that line the shore. This small town dates back to Roman times when it was a fishing village known as Portus Delphini, Port of the Dolphin. There is no train to Portofino so most visitors arrive by bus or ferry. The bus from Santa Margherita Ligure takes 10 minutes. There is a parking garage here, but it has limited space. Bikes are not allowed in the historic center by the water, so we will take a quick walk down to the piazza. We can’t come all this way and not see it! Along this street is where you will find clothing stores, cafes, ATMs, hotels and restaurants, and GELATO! While there are plenty of places to eat, there are very few places where you can buy groceries and supplies to cook your own food. In 1171, together with the neighboring Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino was part of the commune of Rapallo. After 1229 it was part of the Republic of Genoa. In 1815, Portofino became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia. From 1861 on, it has been part of the unified Kingdom of Italy. This main square honors the “Martyrs of Olivetta,” 22 partisans killed by the Nazis in 1944. This is it! This is what everyone comes to see. 🙂 Portofino is very small! You can see a full tour of Portofino on my channel. Okay, this is supposed to be a bike tour video, so let’s get back to the bike. I filmed a tour of Portofino in August of 2020 when most tourists were unable to travel due to Covid. So, if you want to see Portofino without huge crowds, be sure to watch that video. I filmed a walking tour of Portofino again in July of 2023. It is a longer more complete tour. Since the late 19th century, the main industry of Portofino has been tourism. Unlike many popular tourist destinations in Italy, Portofino is known more for its beauty than its history. This is actually the SS227, not the SS7. I lived next to the SS7 when I lived here in Italy, so that was name just came out when I started typing these titles. Portofino is part of the Portofino Regional Park which sits between the Gulf of Paradiso on one side, and the Gulf of Tigullio on the other. Founded in 1935, the Portofino Natural Regional Park is a beautiful area offering an interesting mix of rural and maritime landscapes. There is a nice place to swim here on the corner. There are 9 named mountains in the Portofino Natural Regional Park. The highest and the most prominent mountain in the park is Mount Portofino (Monte di Portofino) at 2,021 ft (616m) in elevation. The Portofino Natural Regional Park is also home to several other sites of historical interest, such as World War II bunkers overlooking the sea and the Portofino lighthouse. There are around 50 mi (80 km) of hiking paths in the park that offer spectacular views out over the Mediterranean Sea. Portofino’s hiking trails tend to be either old mule tracks or rough paths that travel along rocky cliffs or through wooded areas. PARAGGI BAY: Known for its striking emerald green water, Paraggi is located roughly halfway between SML and Portofino. The bay is overlooked by the Castle of Paraggi, a private residence dating back to 1626, once owned by the prominent Brown family. There is a walking path on the side of the road that continues to Santa Margherita Ligure. I had to stop here again to avoid being seen by the police a second time. We will pickup again a half mile down the road. For those wanting to take a trip to Italy and see Portofino and Cinque Terre, here is a suggested itinerary: Fly into Genoa. While there, visit Genoa, Rapallo, Santa Margherita, Camogli and Portofino. For next stay, get a hotel somewhere between Sestri Levante and La Spezia, and visit all the towns of the Cinque Terre. After that, you can take the train to Lucca and get a room there while you also visit Pisa. After that, take the train to Florence. Spend a couple days in Florence and then head down to Siena for a couple days. If you have more time, keep heading south to Rome and then Naples. 🙂 …but Genoa, Portofino, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Lucca, Flrorence and Siena are probably good for Trip #1. 🙂 I’ve filmed walking tour videos of all these locations and you’ll find the maps linked in each video’s description. If you find hotels central to each walking route I created, you will be in the right place. 🙂 If you watched my tour of Santa Margherita Ligure last week, this is the point in the ride where I stopped and filmed a tour of the town. In a moment, you will see a cut in the video which is when I continued filming this ride after filming the walk. To our left is the Oratorio di Sant’Erasmo, a really cool old church filled with nautical gear. Today’s ride coincides with the Santa Cross 2025 event, a local triathlon. The Santa Cross race is a unique triathlon, mixing open-water swimming, off-road running, and kayaking. 77 participants took part in this year’s event, which showcases the Gulf of Tigullio. The winner of the men’s race was Alessio Bertetta with a time of 1 hour and 9 minutes. The women’s race winner was local athlete Erica Baruffi with an impressive time of 1 hour and 19 minutes, placing 5th overall. The race just finished. To our left is Viale Andrea Doria, named after the famous Genoese admiral. An ocean liner bearing his name tragically sank in 1956 after colliding with a Swedish ship. Of all Italy’s ships at the time, Andrea Doria was the largest, fastest and supposedly safest. Before writing the captions for the Santa Margherita Ligure walk, everything I knew about the Andrea Doria came from Seinfeld. 🙂 If you are enjoying this ride and want to support the channel, all you have to do is leave a LIKE on the video. 🙂 Thank you so much! The hills overlooking Rapallo are dotted with villas and monasteries, notably the Santuario di Nostra Signora di Montallegro. We are now cycling along the palm-lined promenade one last time, enjoying the beautiful late afternoon light. We have completed the full loop, returning to the historic castle that guarded Rapallo’s harbor centuries ago. Instead of finishing at the castle, we will ride over to the train station so you can see where it is. Thanks for joining me on this ride! If you enjoyed the ride, please leave a like on the video and share it with a friend. Ciao! Ciao!

4K Virtual Bike Ride on the Italian Riviera from Rapallo to Portofino and back! 🇮🇹

🌊 Ride along the famous Ligurian coast, starting at the castle of Rapallo, past the palm-lined promenade, through the charming town of Santa Margherita Ligure, and down the scenic coastal road (SS227) to the colorful harbor of Portofino. Feel the breeze, enjoy the ambient sounds of the sea, and immerse yourself in the charm of the Italian Riviera — no passport required! Perfect for spin class, indoor exercise bikes, or just virtual travel through one of Europe’s most stunning coastal landscapes. 🎥 Filmed with: DJI Osmo Pocket 3 in 4K for an ultra-smooth, immersive perspective.

📅 *Filmed on* Sunday, September 7th, 2025
🌞 *Weather* 28°C | 83°F 🌡
🗺️ *Map of the Walk* https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1wq1IkweSt3VYv33cAG6kLA5mCiKTgdc&usp=sharing 🗺️

⏱️ *Video Timeline*
*RAPALLO TO PORTOFINO*
0:00 Intro
0:10 Rapallo Castle
1:22 Lungomare of Rapallo
4:19 Via San Michele (SS227)
7:37 San Michele di Pagana
11:37 Santa Margherita Ligure
33:27 Paraggi Bay
36:20 Portofino
40:22 Walking into Portofino
*PORTOFINO TO RAPALLO*
46:25 SS227 Return Route (Via Provinciale)
59:07 Santa Margherita Ligure
1:07:46 Rapallo
1:14:40 Lungomare of Rapallo
1:16:04 Rapallo Castle
1:18:58 Rapallo Train Station

🎥 Filmed by Prowalk Tours | Subscribe for more virtual walks, rides, and travel adventures from around the world.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to support the channel and join our growing travel community!

================================================================================
🙏 Thank You to My VIP Passeggiata Patrons
*Barb Stuhlemmer* • *David Miccolis* • *H Munro* • *Maggie McCormick* • *Andrey Antsut* • *James Hatfield* • *Mikey Spumoni*
💛 Your support makes these videos possible!
➡️ Join here: https://www.patreon.com/Prowalktours
================================================================================

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
📽 *MORE WALKING TOURS*
🎄Christmas Markets Playlist: (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSOO4vYXpMCd2nqHyPaDtgxkf_BsAuQCt&si=0YU1zhv0tLbwm8u6)
🍕 Italy Playlist: (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSOO4vYXpMCc6k7EuMhr764qCNeXDrxpj&si=aYfLAtNw1eGc560w)
🏛️ Greece Playlist: (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSOO4vYXpMCf151n5M3j9IxxvvvZNK7TM&si=xW-ewBTs4pzb90a1)
🚴 Biking Tours Playlist: (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSOO4vYXpMCe4SaQXMk9IMfpkl1w473Zz&si=1rFBHTnZtCMmykPA)
🐪 Egypt Playlist: (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSOO4vYXpMCc_y7TUiJufW_N_QZod0M8d&si=XgIlOOZb0DLiPt9z)
🍣 Japan Playlist: (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSOO4vYXpMCc69vi-SFMODDGKQf_7D-IK&si=hxZIpoG9x1Ypszyq)
🥁 Brazil Playlist: (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSOO4vYXpMCcefbIXpStQK7fPRJBBiBAH&si=Zlji0Mfbp3sJlyjs)
🦘 Australia Playlist: (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSOO4vYXpMCcuh1sGTbEtCldxhCA6grbV&si=tQ56vSTmsQKUNWjN)
🌍 Complete List of Walks: http://www.prowalks.com/videos
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

===============================================================================
📢 *SUPPORT & CONNECT:*
🌍 Website: https://www.prowalktours.com
🔔 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@ProwalkTours
🟥 Become a Member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNzul4dnciIlDg8BAcn5-cQ/join
💛 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Prowalktours
💳 Donate: https://www.paypal.me/Prowalks
👕 Merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/prowalk-tours
===============================================================================

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
🎥 *My Filming Gear:* https://www.amazon.com/shop/prowalktours
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

🚷 No portion of this video may be used without prior written consent from Prowalk Tours. If you appear in this video and wish to have your image removed, please contact me.

#Portofino #BikingTour #prowalktours