The Bay of Portofino is dominated by two buildings: the pastel-yellow Church of St George and, further up the hill, the fortified walls of what has become known as Castello Brown.

This is a walk that every visitor must make during their stay—a leisurely stroll rather than a serious trek (although you can extend it by about an hour by continuing as far as the lighthouse at the end of the path).

Castello Brown is named after Montague Yeats Brown, the British Consul in Genoa, who bought the castle in the 19th century and transformed it into his personal villa. Although there is little to see inside, the views over Portofino and the Gulf of Rapallo are unforgettable. Look out also for the two statuesque pines, a striking feature on the Portofino skyline, which Brown allegedly planted to represent him and his bride on their wedding day.