Just an hour from The Mall Sanremo are the low pastel-coloured houses of Varigotti, an enchanting seaside town set between the cliffs and the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. Once a fortified harbour, it is now one of the most exclusive locations on the Riviera di Ponente, the coastline to the west of Genoa, offering a discrete charm that attracts habitués and celebrities in search of genuine beauty.

Start with a true Ligurian breakfast: it’s true that the local morning ritual is to dip focaccia in your cappuccino, preferably while sitting at a seaside café.

If you enjoy hiking, focaccia also makes the perfect picnic lunch: pick some up at Forno Cassina and take it with you along the Sentiero del Pellegrino, an ancient pilgrim trail that passes by the little stone church of San Lorenzo, a former monastery with a sea view, continuing as far as Noli, past the spectacular Grotta dei Falsari, a cave with a natural balcony over the blue sea that is beautiful when photographed at any time of day.

If you’d rather be on the beach, the hard part will be choosing which one! Varigotti beach is perfect for families, with pale sand and crystal-clear water framed by the iconic coloured houses. Not far away, the Baia dei Saraceni offers a pristine natural setting: adventurous souls can get there across the water (you can even swim there) or on foot, along a steep mule track. While Punta Crena is a hidden cove dominated by an ancient watchtower, and, only a 15-minute drive away, the beach of Punta Prodani in Bergeggi offers fine sand, surprising opportunities for diving and a historic underwater shipwreck.

If you’re in town for lunch, dine at Ristorante Muraglia Conchiglia d’Oro, then enjoy aperitifs while watching the sunset with your feet in the sand at Bagni La Giara: also perfect for an informal sea-view dinner, a tasteful conclusion to the day.