Portofino (Italian pronunciation: [ˌpɔrtoˈfiːno]; Ligurian: Portofin[ˌpɔɾtuˈfiŋ]) is a comune located in the Metropolitan City of Genoa on the Italian Riviera. The town is clustered around its small harbour, and is known for the colourfully painted buildings that line the shore.[3] Since the late 19th century, Portofino has attracted tourism of the European aristocracy and it is now a resort for the world's jet set.[4][5]
Pliny the Elder (AD 23 – AD 79) referred to Portus Delphini (Port of the Dolphin) as on the Ligurian coast between Genoa and the Gulf of Tigullio.[6]
The village is mentioned in a diploma from 986 by Adelaide of Italy, which assigned it to the nearby Abbey of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte. In 1171, together with the neighbouring Santa Margherita Ligure, it was included in Rapallo's commune jurisdiction. After 1229 it was part of the Republic of Genoa. The town's natural harbour supported a fleet of fishing boats, but was somewhat too cramped to provide more than a temporary safe haven for the growing merchant marine of the Republic of Genoa.
In 1409, Portofino was sold to the Republic of Florence by Charles VI of France, during the period that he was also lord of the Genoese Republic, but when the latter was ousted from Genoa the Florentines gave it back. In the 15th century it was a fief of families such as the Fieschi, Spinola, Adorno, and Doria.
In the late 19th century, first British, then other Northern European aristocratic tourists began to visit Portofino, which they reached by horse and cart from Santa Margherita Ligure. Aubrey Herbert and Elizabeth von Arnim were among the more famous English people to make the area fashionable.[7] Eventually, more expatriates built expensive holiday houses, and by 1950, tourism had replaced fishing as the town's chief industry, and the waterfront was a continuous ring of restaurants and cafés.
Main sights
Statue of Christ of the Abyss, placed underwater on 29 August 1954 in the inlet at a depth of 17 metres (56 ft). This statue was placed to protect fishermen and scuba divers and in memory of Dario Gonzatti, the first Italian to use SCUBA gear, who died in 1947. Sculpted by Guido Galletti, it represents Christ in the act of blessing while looking up towards the sky with open arms in a sign of peace.
In 2023, the municipality introduced zones where tourists are forbidden to linger to take photographs, which was causing congestion. Fines of up to €275 could be imposed those infringing the regulations.[8][9]
Göran Schildt's Daphne in Portofino in 1948Portofino was visited by Finland Swedish writer Göran Schildt and his ketch Daphne in 1948 on the start of his travels on the Mediterranean Sea.
Portofino is often thought to be the inspiration for Sir Clough Williams-Ellis' Italianate village named Portmeirion, built between 1925 and 1975, in north Wales. However, this was repeatedly denied by the architect. He stated only that he wanted to pay tribute to the atmosphere of the Mediterranean. He did, however, draw on a love of the Italian village, stating "How should I not have fallen for Portofino? Indeed its image remained with me as an almost perfect example of the man-made adornment and use of an exquisite site."[12]
In 1959, Dalida released song "Love in Portofino", written by Leo Chiosso and composed by Fred Buscaglione. With lyrics in French and Italian language, it became a hit and was later iconised alongside the village's name. It also spawned several international covers, including Andrea Bocelli's in 2013 which was followed by a concert recorded and issued on DVD.
Portofino is the eponym of Frank Schaeffer's Portofino: A Novel (1992). It was the first of Schaeffer's Calvin Becker Trilogy.[13]
Portofino is one of the shooting locations of the 1995 Antonioni/Wenders film, Beyond the Clouds.[14]
There is a full-scale replica, in authentic detail, of Portofino Bay at Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, USA, which opened in September 1999.
Portofino inspired in 2001 a recreation of the seaside town in the Mediterranean Harbor area at Tokyo DisneySea in Chiba, Japan. It also served as the namesake for the restaurant Cafe Portofino.
In the 2021 Disney-Pixar animated film Luca, the fictional town of Portorosso is based on Portofino, as well as other villages in the Italian Riviera.[15]
The 2022 six-episode period drama television series Hotel Portofino, set in the 1920s, was created by Matt Baker in 2020, filmed principally on location in Portofino in 2021, and is being shown on Britbox, PBS, and other television networks.[16] The show was renewed for a second season.[17]
^De Vere White, Terrence. Introduction to The Enchanted April, Virago: 1991. ISBN9780860685173.
^"Italy selfie ban: Tourists in Portofino could be fined for posing for selfies". CBBC Newsround. BBC. 19 April 2023.
^"Hohe Strafen in Portofino - Italienische Gemeinde verhängt Bussen fürs Stehenbleiben". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
^De Vere White, Terence in introduction to 'The Enchanted April', Virago: 1991
portofino, this, article, about, village, resort, italy, other, uses, disambiguation, italian, pronunciation, ˌpɔrtoˈfiːno, ligurian, portofin, ˌpɔɾtuˈfiŋ, comune, located, metropolitan, city, genoa, italian, riviera, town, clustered, around, small, harbour, k. This article is about the village and resort in Italy For other uses see Portofino disambiguation Portofino Italian pronunciation ˌpɔrtoˈfiːno Ligurian Portofin ˌpɔɾtuˈfiŋ is a comune located in the Metropolitan City of Genoa on the Italian Riviera The town is clustered around its small harbour and is known for the colourfully painted buildings that line the shore 3 Since the late 19th century Portofino has attracted tourism of the European aristocracy and it is now a resort for the world s jet set 4 5 PortofinoComuneComune di PortofinoView of PortofinoCoat of armsLocation of PortofinoPortofinoLocation of Portofino in ItalyShow map of ItalyPortofinoPortofino Liguria Show map of LiguriaCoordinates 44 18 14 N 9 12 28 E 44 30389 N 9 20778 E 44 30389 9 20778CountryItalyRegionLiguriaMetropolitan cityGenoa GE Government MayorMatteo ViacavaArea 1 Total2 53 km2 0 98 sq mi Elevation4 m 13 ft Population 31 December 2021 2 Total379 Density150 km2 390 sq mi DemonymPortofinesiTime zoneUTC 1 CET Summer DST UTC 2 CEST Postal code16034Dialing code0185Patron saintSt GeorgeSaint daySt George s Bonfire April 23rd Religious Celebration the first Sunday after WebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 History 2 Main sights 2 1 Restriction on photography 3 In popular culture 4 Notable residents 5 Twin towns 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditPliny the Elder AD 23 AD 79 referred to Portus Delphini Port of the Dolphin as on the Ligurian coast between Genoa and the Gulf of Tigullio 6 The village is mentioned in a diploma from 986 by Adelaide of Italy which assigned it to the nearby Abbey of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte In 1171 together with the neighbouring Santa Margherita Ligure it was included in Rapallo s commune jurisdiction After 1229 it was part of the Republic of Genoa The town s natural harbour supported a fleet of fishing boats but was somewhat too cramped to provide more than a temporary safe haven for the growing merchant marine of the Republic of Genoa In 1409 Portofino was sold to the Republic of Florence by Charles VI of France during the period that he was also lord of the Genoese Republic but when the latter was ousted from Genoa the Florentines gave it back In the 15th century it was a fief of families such as the Fieschi Spinola Adorno and Doria In 1815 it became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia and from 1861 of the unified Kingdom of Italy In the late 19th century first British then other Northern European aristocratic tourists began to visit Portofino which they reached by horse and cart from Santa Margherita Ligure Aubrey Herbert and Elizabeth von Arnim were among the more famous English people to make the area fashionable 7 Eventually more expatriates built expensive holiday houses and by 1950 tourism had replaced fishing as the town s chief industry and the waterfront was a continuous ring of restaurants and cafes Main sights EditStatue of Christ of the Abyss placed underwater on 29 August 1954 in the inlet at a depth of 17 metres 56 ft This statue was placed to protect fishermen and scuba divers and in memory of Dario Gonzatti the first Italian to use SCUBA gear who died in 1947 Sculpted by Guido Galletti it represents Christ in the act of blessing while looking up towards the sky with open arms in a sign of peace Castello Brown 16th century Church of St Martin Divo Martino 12th century Church of St George housing some saints relics Oratory of Santa Maria Assunta in Gothic style Restriction on photography Edit In 2023 the municipality introduced zones where tourists are forbidden to linger to take photographs which was causing congestion Fines of up to 275 could be imposed those infringing the regulations 8 9 Panoramic view of Portofino Portofino cemetery and Castello Brown St MartinIn popular culture EditThe Enchanted April a 1922 best selling novel by Elizabeth von Arnim based on the author s stay in Castello Brown is credited with making Portofino fashionable 10 The novel was the basis of a 1991 feature filmed in the Castello with a cast including Joan Plowright Miranda Richardson and Alfred Molina The film was nominated for three Oscars 11 Goran Schildt s Daphne in Portofino in 1948Portofino was visited by Finland Swedish writer Goran Schildt and his ketch Daphne in 1948 on the start of his travels on the Mediterranean Sea Portofino is often thought to be the inspiration for Sir Clough Williams Ellis Italianate village named Portmeirion built between 1925 and 1975 in north Wales However this was repeatedly denied by the architect He stated only that he wanted to pay tribute to the atmosphere of the Mediterranean He did however draw on a love of the Italian village stating How should I not have fallen for Portofino Indeed its image remained with me as an almost perfect example of the man made adornment and use of an exquisite site 12 In 1959 Dalida released song Love in Portofino written by Leo Chiosso and composed by Fred Buscaglione With lyrics in French and Italian language it became a hit and was later iconised alongside the village s name It also spawned several international covers including Andrea Bocelli s in 2013 which was followed by a concert recorded and issued on DVD Portofino is the eponym of Frank Schaeffer s Portofino A Novel 1992 It was the first of Schaeffer s Calvin Becker Trilogy 13 Portofino is one of the shooting locations of the 1995 Antonioni Wenders film Beyond the Clouds 14 There is a full scale replica in authentic detail of Portofino Bay at Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando USA which opened in September 1999 Portofino inspired in 2001 a recreation of the seaside town in the Mediterranean Harbor area at Tokyo DisneySea in Chiba Japan It also served as the namesake for the restaurant Cafe Portofino Portofino was featured in 2008 in the BBC television series Top Gear Richard Hammond in a Ferrari Daytona raced James May in a carbon fibre powerboat from Portofino to St Tropez in France Ferrari named one of their sports cars the Ferrari Portofino in 2017 In 2018 the Scuderia Ferrari Club Portofino was founded In the 2021 Disney Pixar animated film Luca the fictional town of Portorosso is based on Portofino as well as other villages in the Italian Riviera 15 The 2022 six episode period drama television series Hotel Portofino set in the 1920s was created by Matt Baker in 2020 filmed principally on location in Portofino in 2021 and is being shown on Britbox PBS and other television networks 16 The show was renewed for a second season 17 Notable residents EditKing Richard I of England 1157 1199 in 1190 18 Pope Gregory XI 1330 1378 in 1377 Henry Herbert 1831 1890 British Politician Guy de Maupassant 1850 1893 French writer Guglielmo Marconi 1874 1937 Italian engineer inventor of radio Giuseppe Amisani 1879 1941 Italian painter Michele Cascella 1892 1989 Italian painter Rex Harrison 1908 1990 English actor Lilli Palmer 1914 1986 German actress wife of Rex HarrisonTwin towns Edit Kinsale Republic of Ireland citation needed Palma Spain citation needed Cassis France 19 Belvedere California United States 20 See also EditItalian Riviera List of castles in Italy Castello Brown Cervara Abbey ParaggiReferences Edit Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011 Italian National Institute of Statistics Retrieved 16 March 2019 All demographics and other statistics Italian statistical institute Istat Lonely Planet Portofino Guide accessdate 2015 03 24 Oganga Jeff 2022 06 06 Resort Of The Rich And Famous What Portofino Is Really Like TheTravel Retrieved 2022 07 13 The five reasons we absolutely love Portofino Gran Turismo Events 2021 02 09 Retrieved 2022 07 13 Pliny the Elder Natural History III VII 2 De Vere White Terrence Introduction to The Enchanted April Virago 1991 ISBN 9780860685173 Italy selfie ban Tourists in Portofino could be fined for posing for selfies CBBC Newsround BBC 19 April 2023 Hohe Strafen in Portofino Italienische Gemeinde verhangt Bussen furs Stehenbleiben Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen SRF in German 2023 04 24 Retrieved 2023 04 24 De Vere White Terence in introduction to The Enchanted April Virago 1991 Enchanted April Internet Movie Database Headley Gwyn Meulenkamp Wim 1986 Follies A National Trust Guide Cape p 156 ISBN 978 0 224 02105 0 Schaeffer Frank 2006 Portofino A novel New York Macmillan ISBN 978 0 7867 1716 3 Beyond the Clouds 1995 Filming Locations IMDB Retrieved 2013 12 14 Peters Fletcher June 18 2021 Where is the Movie Luca Based Decider Hotel Portofino Natascha McElhone Period Drama Series Sells To ITV BritBox Sky Italia Foxtel Deadline Hollywood 9 June 2021 MIPTV Hotel Portofino Gets Season 2 Order Professor T Sells Wide The Hollywood Reporter 4 April 2022 Hofmann Paul 1994 06 19 Portofino For the Rich And Less So The New York Times Retrieved 2015 02 28 Portofino Genova Liguria Italy City Town and Village of the world Portofino Verso il gemellaggio con City of Belvedere San Francisco 20 May 2017 External links EditPortofino at Wikipedia s sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Resources from Wikiversity Portofino travel guide from Wikivoyage Portofino Portofino Travel Guide Portofino tourism City Hall Portofino Natural ParkPortal Italy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Portofino amp oldid 1163742133, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
