Portofino, Italy

Portofino is a small Italian fishing town, municipality and tourist resort located in the province of Genoa on the Italian Riviera. The city is one of the most beautiful Mediterranean ports. 
According to Pliny the Elder, Portofino was built by the Romans and called Portus Delphini, or Dolphin Harbor, because of the large number of dolphins that inhabit the Tigullian Gulf.
The settlement was part of the Republic of Genoa around 1229. In 1409 Portofino was sold to the Republic of Florence by Henry VI, King of France, but when he was expelled from Genoa, the Florentines had to return it. In 1815 the city was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia and since 1861 - part of the Kingdom of Italy. 
In the 19th century, first British and then other European aristocrats began to visit Portofino. By 1950, tourism had replaced fishing as the city's main industry, and many restaurants and cafes had been built along the coast.
Interesting to see are: 
- The statue of "Christ of the Abyss", placed underground on August 29, 1954 in a small bay at a depth of 17 meters. This statue was placed to protect fishermen. She represents the blessing Jesus, who looks to heaven with open arms, as a symbol of peace;
- Castello Brown, XVI century; 
- Church of San Martino (Divo Martino, XII century); 
- Church of San Giorgio – here, according to legend, are kept the relics of San Giorgio, brought in the twelfth century by the Crusaders, returning from the holy lands; 
- Oratory of Santa Maria Assunta, Gothic style; 
- Portofino Natural Park - it has sloping hills overgrown with sea pine, as well as herbs, juniper, caluna, incense and over 700 species of wildflowers. From the park you can take a path to the San Fruttuoso abbey which was built in the XI century.