Portovenere the furthermost western point of the Gulf of La Spezia. Takes its name from Venere Ericinia, Venus the goddess of love, in Roman times a temple was built to venerate her, remains of this can be seen today in the church of St Peter, situated at the promontory headland.
Portovenere boasts numerous excellent restaurants, mostly fish cuisine locally caught. Cinqueterre wines are wonderful accompaniment to ones meal. Mussels too are locally farmed.