A deep, clean sea at the foot of cliffs, villages and beaches: this is the celebrated Ligurian coastline. From Ventimiglia to Bocca di Magra lies a succession of unique forms and colours of surprising beauty. The ancient fishing tradition and the delicious flavours of the local fish-based cuisine gradually give way to the hills in the immediate hinterland. Here, castles, stone-built villages, churches and strips of land on which vines and olive trees are grown combine into a mosaic of fragrances, tastes and artistic forms immersed in the peace and quiet of centuries gone by. A livelier atmosphere and fashions are found in the cities which have grown up around the old ports and in the world-famous towns along the Rivieras.