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The Italian Riviera: Lerici, Portovenere, and La Spezia with Karen Nilson

The Italian Riviera: Lerici, Portovenere, and La Spezia with Karen Nilson


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Join a local expert to explore the Italian Riviera and the charming coastal towns of Lerici, Portovenere, and La Spezia. This stretch of coastline has always been a unique source of inspiration for many artists, among which Percy B. Shelley, who spent here the last days of his too-short life.

Lerici, Portovenere, and the cozy hamlets surrounding them, literally form a pearl necklace around La Spezia, the largest town on the eastern side of the Italian Riviera. Inhabited since prehistory, it was considered a vacation resort already in the Roman age.  Portovenere became famous amongst Northern European artists and intellectuals, who started visiting the area in the early 1800s. Castles, little islands, the beautiful sea, and lush vegetation together play a role in forming a very special and exclusive atmosphere. In spite of its unique characteristics, the area is still off the beaten path, overshadowed by its more famous neighbor the Cinque Terre and Portofino. We will dig into life in these characteristic villages that line the seaside.

Led by an expert on the eastern Italian Riviera, Karen Nilson, this interactive seminar will uncover the little-known history of a very special bit of Liguria. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased appreciation of the relationship between the beauty of nature and artistic inspiration.

This conversation is part of a four-part series on the Italian Riviera with Michela Ceccarini and Karen Nilson. Each session is designed as a stand-alone seminar as well as part of the series.

Karen Nilson was born in Italy to a North American father and an Italian mother. After obtaining her degree in Political Science, she moved to Liguria, where she became a licensed tour guide in 2006. She works mostly in the area of the Cinque Terre, leading groups and individuals to discover the soul of this special region as well as delivering lectures and conversations about the history of the region. She is vice president of a cooperative of tour guides.

Not suitable for children under age 13 (sensitive content).

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
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(2)
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A. (Rockville, US)

Excellent presentation about a beautiful area.

m
michela ceccarini (Prague, CZ)

Guest did not leave comment

M
Myra (Seattle, US)

Guest did not leave comment

A
Anonymous (Beverly, US)

Guest did not leave comment

R
Richard Bebermeyer (Houston, US)
Poor sound quality

Even after enquiries, we two (along with at least one other) had such poor sound quality that we missed some of the lecture. The speaker wore ear buds and a mic, but the mic was not sufficient. When the speaker moved or turned, there was an even greater decrease in volume. We did have our laptop on maximum volume. We are very unlikely to enroll in another course.

Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
40%
(2)
20%
(1)
20%
(1)
20%
(1)
0%
(0)
A
A. (Rockville, US)

Excellent presentation about a beautiful area.

m
michela ceccarini (Prague, CZ)

Guest did not leave comment

M
Myra (Seattle, US)

Guest did not leave comment

A
Anonymous (Beverly, US)

Guest did not leave comment

R
Richard Bebermeyer (Houston, US)
Poor sound quality

Even after enquiries, we two (along with at least one other) had such poor sound quality that we missed some of the lecture. The speaker wore ear buds and a mic, but the mic was not sufficient. When the speaker moved or turned, there was an even greater decrease in volume. We did have our laptop on maximum volume. We are very unlikely to enroll in another course.