27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Pretty Welsh village offers 'slice of Italy' without actually leaving the UK
Pretty Welsh village offers 'slice of Italy' without actually leaving the UK
Wales is made up of multiple cities and villages and is a hotspot for domestic tourism due to its natural beauty and landscape - and one pretty Welsh village in particular has been likened to Italy
A pretty village in Wales has been compared to Italy for its beautiful buildings and coast (stock photo)
(Image: Getty Images )
Wales has plenty of beautiful spots loved by tourists and locals, and one Welsh village is said to offer a 'slice of Italy.' Italy is known for its stunning scenery, including the Mediterranean coastline, and it has many colourful buildings.
People also travel to Wales for its natural beauty, as it is popular with those who like to go on outdoor adventures like hiking and its beaches. Portmeirion is a pretty small village in Gwynedd, North Wales that lies on the estuary of the River Dwyryd and has been compared to Italy. According to the official website, the Italian Riviera 'meets rural Wales with a riot of colour and architectural styles at Portmeirion Village.'
The village is well known as the location for the 1960s TV series The Prisoner and it is made up of a range of 'colour-washed buildings around a central piazza, scenic surroundings and extensive woodlands, two hotels, historic cottages, gift shops, a spa and award winning restaurants.'
A user on TikTok posted a video on the platform walking around some of the beautiful areas of Portmeirion Village.
The post's caption reads: 'A slice of Italy in UK. Perfect place for weekend break from London. Colourful houses, coastal vibes!'
The short clip shows vibrantly-coloured buildings with stunning architecture and some have domes and arched windows with balconies.
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There's also an array of trees of different sizes, flowers and a lily-covered lake in the exotic Japanese Garden.
The Portmeirion website states that the subtropical forest features some of Britain's largest trees, secret gardens, a derelict castle and rare flowers.
Visitors can further explore the 70 acres of exotic woodlands with 19 miles of pathways which cut through forests, secret spaces and coastal coves. There are secret sites like the Dog Cemetery, Tanglewood, Ghost Garden and Shelter Valley.
Unusual species can be found in Portmeirion as during the Victorian period, former tenants Henry Seymour Westmacott and later Sir Williams Fothergill Cook, a popular botanist, planted a mixture of monkey puzzle trees, pines, magnolias, camellias, giant redwoods and various rhododendrons on the estate.
For those who enjoy strolling on the beach, the Dwyryd Estuary at Portmeirion Village has white sandy beaches to be discovered.
Portemeirion dates back to the early 19th century as in 1925, Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis acquired the site which was to become the village.
The website adds: 'The concept of a tightly grouped coastal village had been envisaged by Clough Williams-Ellis years before he found the site, close to his own home in North Wales, on which he managed to realise his dream.'
The architect had been searching for a suitable site for his proposed ideal village for several years and when he heard that the Aber Iâ estate near Penrhyndeudraeth was for sale, he 'did not hesitate to make an offer.'
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You can book tickets to visit Portmeirion Village for the day online via the website or at the toll booth on the day.
Tickets cost £20 per adult, £13 for children between five and 15-years-old and younger children can visit for free.
