Page 208 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

206  SUR VIV AL GUIDE
PRACTICAL INFORMATION

On the whole, visitors will find that Liguria Healthcare in all its usual forms is available
has a good standard of services and throughout the region, though the best
infrastructure. It is easy to travel around, facilities are inevitably found along the coast,
particularly along the coast; the people are where there are also much more likely to be
friendly; and, in a region that has such a long English-speaking medical staff.
and well-established tourist season, there are People with disabilities are well catered for
good sources of information, whether it is in Liguria. Good sources of information and
from a local tourist office or from the Internet. other services are provided, as well as access
Many of the tourist-oriented websites have to most museums, which are generally
text in English as well as in Italian. modern and well designed.

Local tourist offices usually
open from 8am–12:30pm
and 3–7pm Monday to Friday,
with some larger offices
opening for longer during
the summer. Some offices
open on Saturday mornings.
Bear in mind that the tourist
information kiosks found at
major transport termi nals are
generally fairly basic.

Communications
Post offices are found in all
Ligurian towns and there is
The crowded beach at Camogli in the summer often more than one branch.
They are usually open only in
When to Visit Travel Safety Advice
the morning, from 8:30am to
Of all the Italian regions, Visitors can get up-to-date travel 1:30pm (noon on Saturdays
Liguria is the one with the most safety information from the and the last day of the month),
tem perate climate. Even in Foreign and Commonwealth although in the large towns
winter, its climate is generally Office in the UK, the State there are usually post offices
warmer than it is in much of Department in the US and the
Italy, with the exception of Sicily. Department of Foreign Affairs
As a result, there is only a and Trade in Australia.
relatively short period when
tourists don’t visit. Further more,
such are the cultural attractions Tourist Information
of the region, that there is plenty There are four Ligurian
to do even when the climate provinces – Genoa, Imperia,
isn’t hot enough for long stints La Spezia and Savona – but five
by the seaside. tourist boards or Informazioni
However, while Liguria is e Accoglienza Turistica (IAT):
virtually a year-round attraction, Riviera dei Fiori for Imperia;
there is still an identifiable high Riviera delle Palme for Savona;
season, which extends from May Genoa for the city and its
to the end of September. Tourists environs; Tigullio, with
from Britain, France, Germany responsibility for the rest of
and Holland, as well as from Italy, the province of Genoa; and
pour into the region during this lastly Cinque Terre e Golfo dei
period, when the entire coast Poeti, which covers the La
can become extremely crowded. Spezia area. In every good-
Visitors more interested in sized town you will find a
cultural pursuits should consider tourist office (or, in the smaller
visiting in March, April, towns, a “Pro loco” office),
September or October, when which will have information
the weather is cooler and the about the local sights and Sailing along the coast, a very popular
hotels are quieter. hotels and restaurants. sport in Liguria
Rows of colourful boats in Vernazza, Cinque Terre

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