- 350 residents.
- A village so small it has only one tiny square and a port for just 7 yachts.
- No beaches.
- A dead-end road with no way out.
- The highest real estate prices in Italy.
- Many villas are unreachable by car.
And yet, Portofino attracts over 700,000 tourists annually. Among its illustrious visitors are Winston Churchill, Clark Gable, Madonna, and many more. Naturally, we're talking about luxury tourism here, with the average price for a night in a luxury hotel exceeding a whopping €2,000 (data from 2024).
Why choose Portofino to buy property?
This is a question many clients ask me, and I always respond simply: “Portofino is truly one of a kind.”
There’s simply no other village in Italy that can draw the attention of the world’s rich and famous like Portofino. The figures above prove it. The Portofino real estate market sees very few transactions, but at sky-high prices. And this shouldn’t come as a surprise given the limited number of properties and the strict ban on constructing new ones.
Fun fact: Sometimes the value of real estate in Portofino isn’t based on square meters but rather on the number of windows overlooking the bay!
What types of properties can you buy in Portofino?
Mainly classic-style apartments or villas, historic homes, each with its own story. Some villas can’t even be reached by car, so you’ll need to walk or use electric vehicles like golf carts.
I know what you’re thinking: getting home on foot or by golf cart sounds inconvenient. But here’s the trade-off: silence, nature, and absolute privacy! And that’s exactly what many celebrities crave, tired of being in the spotlight.
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Often, the floors of these homes are adorned with intricate mosaics, and the ceilings feature unique frescoes. If you purchase a property in Portofino, preserve them! They are genuine treasures!
What to visit
The first place I recommend is the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, although my personal favorite masterpiece is the Statue of Christ, submerged 17 meters underwater in the bay of San Fruttuoso. Thanks to the crystal-clear waters, it’s visible even from the top of the hill!
Another religious spot? The Church of San Martino, dating back to the 12th century, was bombed during World War II, later restored, and now houses examples of ancient painting and sculpture.
The Church of San Giorgio, also built in the 12th century in Romanesque style, underwent full renovation in the last century, yet it retains its ancient charm.
The historic Castello Brown, perched majestically on the Portofino shore, overlooks the bay and is surrounded by gardens and terraces. Its museum, with its distinctive architecture and collection of artifacts, attracts history and art enthusiasts.
A curious tale about Villa Altachiara in Portofino
Have you heard about Villa Altachiara in Portofino? Let me tell you a breathtaking story!
Once upon a time in Britain, Lord Carnarvon decided in 1874 to build a villa in the coastal village of Portofino, naming it Altachiara. The villa was of incredible beauty and size, boasting 30 rooms within a park spanning over 35,000 square meters.
The lord later joined the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb and, according to legend, succumbed to its "curse," dying suddenly a few months afterward... but the story doesn’t end there.
The villa was inherited by the lord’s granddaughter, who tragically fell from its balcony onto the rocks below. After her, more premature and dramatic deaths occurred in the same villa.
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Unsurprisingly, with such a reputation, the villa remained unsold for a long time. It went to auction in 2007, its value dropping significantly. Finally, in 2015, the twist! Villa Altachiara sold at auction for €25 million!
And the brave new owner? A bold and daring Russian oligarch by the name of Eduard Yurevich Khudaynatov!
Does the curse end here?
Of course not. In 2022, the villa was frozen and seized by the Italian Guardia di Finanza following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And so, the Russian oligarch, a friend of Putin, can no longer enjoy his real estate investment.
Secrets of Portofino
- Castello Brown, the ancient fortress dominating the village, hides a secret underground tunnel directly connected to the sea, used for evacuations during enemy attacks.
- Along one of the lesser-known trails leading to Portofino’s lighthouse, there’s a “small wall of wishes” where visitors leave messages on pieces of paper and fabric. Few know about it, but legend says wishes made here come true.
- The iconic “Portofino green” color used for shutters and house details has an intriguing history. Local fishermen chose it to camouflage the houses among the surrounding greenery, protecting the village from pirate attacks.
- The Portofino promontory is home to secret marine caves accessible only by small boats. Among them, the Grotta del Cannone is famous for its crystal-clear waters and legends of pirate-hidden treasures.
- One of Portofino’s oldest houses, located in the piazzetta, has a clock frozen at 1800. It’s said the owner at the time stopped it to commemorate a special family event, leaving it that way forever.
- The Portofino lighthouse, now a romantic destination, holds a secret: inside, a bundle of love letters from World War II was discovered, written by a soldier to a girl from the village.