East of the famed five villages of the Cinque Terre is the equally compelling Gulf of Poets, the Gulf of La Spezia given a literary nickname for its attraction to some of the world's most celebrated poets who came--and sometimes died--here. Percy Bysshe Shelley lived in the village of San Terenzo, and died when his boat was hit by a storm on his way home from Livorno. There is a grotto dedicated to Lord Byron at Portovenere. Dante and Petrarch spoke of the natural beauty of the gulf.
If you're tired of the overtouristed Cinque Terre, why not explore the Gulf of Poets? You might find Portovenere more compelling that any one of the five villages (as I did), and you can get to many of the destinations shown on these maps and in the pictures by ferry, which is often the best way to view the smaller fishing villages in any case. Remember that many of the boats only run in the summer, or have limited off-season hours, so check ahead.
Enjoy our Gulf of Poets Maps and Pictures.
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