Tellaro is one of those enchanting places that exist only in Liguria: colorful tower-houses perched on a promontory jutting out toward the deep blue sea. Behind it rises a hill green with olive trees and woods. We are in the Gulf of Poets, and Tellaro too is a location that over the centuries has captivated poets, painters, and journalists. Among its illustrious visitors were D.H. Lawrence, Mario Soldati, and Eugenio Montale, who found inspiration here for their greatest masterpieces.
Like nearby Lerici and San Terenzo, Tellaro’s origins date back to the 7th century BC when the entire Gulf of Poets began to be inhabited by the Etruscans. It later became part of the Roman Empire without ever losing its strategic importance.
The current name, moreover, could derive from the business of buying and selling fabrics and textiles that was based here since the early years of its foundation.
Passing from Pisan to Genoese domination during the 13th century, in the 15th century Tellaro ceased to be protected by neighboring powers, thus becoming one of the main targets of Saracen raids. After being razed to the ground, the town finally welcomed those fleeing from the plague in search of safe shelter. Everything that can be admired today, therefore, is the result of a reconstruction that began in the 17th century.
Tellaro has managed to maintain its ancient charm unchanged over time, with its narrow streets in a continuous pedestrian up and down, made of decorative cobblestones according to the ancient Ligurian technique of “risseu mosaic.”
Often associated with the Cinque Terre, Tellaro is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque corners of Liguria and by virtue of its beauty has for years been part of the association of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
Every year it attracts numerous visitors for the beauty of its center that descends toward the port, the lighthouse-church perched on the sea, the breathtaking views, the rocks and coves where you can enjoy the sun or dive into crystal clear waters.
The only famous building in Tellaro is the evocative Church of San Giorgio, a pale pink gem set at the end of the promontory on which the village stands. The church was built in the 16th century and remained the main place of worship in the village until the 1940s, when the more recent church of Stella Maris was built.
A famous local legend is tied to the bell tower. It is said that in the 17th century, a pirate attack was foiled thanks to a giant octopus that emerged from the waters and clung to the church bells, making them ring insistently. The sound of the bells woke the entire village, and the citizens, realizing the danger, managed to ward off the attack by Saracen pirates.
The village of Tellaro is also part of the territory of the Montemarcello-Magra Regional Natural Park, a wetland in the hinterland declared a protected area for its rich flora and fauna.
Staying at Downtown Blue Apartment, you can easily reach Tellaro in just a few minutes by bus and enjoy its timeless beauty.