Private holiday villas and vacation rentals in Chiavari Chiavari: A small harmonious city - with in addition the gentle, relaxing and at the same time majestic presence of the sea. Chiavari is a real gem shining splendidly at the very heart of the Tigullio gulf. Among the main cities in Liguria, the town once known as Clavarium ("key to the valleys") on the alluvial plain formed by the River Entella and it is in a favourable position for communication with the Po valley area. Chiavari is a quiet and welcoming town but also a bathing resort and centre for nautical sports. In the heart of the old town, porticoed Via Martiri della Liberazione has retained its vocation for commerce: this is the ancient "straight alley" which became the most representative street of the bourgeoisie in the mid-fourteenth century. Some very old handicraft activities still survive in Chiavari - the production of "campanino" chairs and macramé lace-making, which can be admired in the little antiques market that is open on the second week-end of every month in the old town streets. Chiavari is also well known for its leisure port which can berth about 450 boats