From La Spezia town centre one can easily reach the village of Portovenere via “the Napoleonic road”, a route that follows the coastline profile and crosses the seafaring villages of Marola, Cadimare, Fezzano and Le Grazie. Right after the hill that dominates the “Varignano” area, the Palmaria Island and the Promontory of Portovenere suddenly appear in all their beauty. An unbelievably charming scenario with “Torre Scola”, which stands alone in the middle of the sea. From the rocky windows, one can admire the famous “Byron Cave” in homage to a great poet, George Gordon Byron. The story goes like this: it was really the boatmen of Portovenere who told everyone the tale of the famous Lord Byron’s swim from Portovenere to Lerici, as they immediately realized how much this could help their business, mainly with English tourists. Even Giosuè Carducci, upon hearing this engaging tale, left the boatman on duty 5 “lire”. In any case Portovenere is a living fairy tale which is renewed every day.