Even the stars need to take a break from their busy lives in the spotlight. Who has chosen the sea village of Portovenere as a vacation destination? Let’s have a peek at the celebrities that have been spotted around the Gulf of Poets!
Russell Crowe visited Portovenere in July 2023. He added this destination to his popular “Where am I now?” series on Twitter.
Crowe returned to the Gulf of Poets in 2024 to perform at the International Jazz Festival of La Spezia with his band Indoor Garden Party. The “gladiator” chose Portovenere for his stay.
American musician, singer and songwriter David Bryan, best known as the keyboard player for the rock band Bon Jovi, visited Palmaria Island in 2024.
Among the celebrities that visited Portovenere in Summer 2021, are former basketball player Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Hollywood actor Samuel L. Jackson, and Italian football manager Luciano Spalletti.
In summer 2019, NBA Superstar LeBron James stopped in Portovenere, the same village that was chosen the year before by Tim Cook, American business executive and CEO of Apple Inc.
In summer 2017, American film director, producer, writer, and actor – Eli Roth – shared some photos of his vacation in eastern Liguria: he chose Portovenere as the base for his stay and visited the Gulf of Poets and Cinque Terre just before returning home.
Other Hollywood stars that chose the Gulf of Poets as a vacation spot and Portovenere as the base for their stay, are director Steven Spielberg and actress Audrey Tautou.
In Summer 2015, a lucky couple who decided to get married in Portovenere, were blown away when Italian classical tenor Andrea Bocelli walked in the church, sat at the organ, sang Schubert’s Ave Maria and then left as discretely as he had entered.
Bocelli, who was enjoying his summer vacation with his family, later explained:
“I walked up to St. Peter Church because I wanted to pray, but a wedding was taking place so I couldn’t. As I was leaving, someone recognized me and asked whether I wanted to surprise the couple. I immediately thought of what St. Augustine said “He who sings, prays twice”. And so I sang…”.
In September 2018, Andrea Bocelli returned to Portovenere in occasion of the prestigious Celebrity Fight Night.
Patti Smith, punk-rock icon as well as singer, poet and political activist, chose to relax in Portovenere while touring Italy to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her first, famous album – Horses. She performed at Santo Stefano Magra on the Bay of Poets in July 2015.
OK, they were not here strictly on vacation… but Italy’s most famous chefs and judges of the MasterChef TV series sure did enjoy all the charm of Portovenere and the relaxing atmosphere provided by their sea-view rooms at the Grand Hotel. Joe Bastianich, Carlo Cracco, Bruno Barbieri and Antonino Cannavacciuolo were shooting an episode for the next season of MasterChef Italia.
Spanish footballer Fernando Llorente shared a picture of himself while “Discovering Italy #Portovenere #Liguria #Paradise #Amazing”. He was very friendly with all his fans, patiently smiling for photos and selfies around town and even inside restaurants, before retreating to his room at Grand Hotel Portovenere.
Celebrity vacation: why Portovenere?
Celebrities look for a relaxing, beautiful location that is off the beaten track yet conveniently located next to famous destinations. A touch of glamour is also welcome! Portovenere seems to offer all of these features, allowing visitors to discover hidden gems on the Gulf of Poets, easily reaching the renowned Cinque Terre, and offering a ton of activities for anyone to enjoy.
