Zoagli

Tigullio village under a railway viaduct between Rapallo and Chiavari: cliffside promenades, pebble beaches, silk velvet and hill hamlets.

Le case di Zoagli sulla scogliera

Area: Golfo del TigullioRiviera di Levante · Province of Genoa
Ideal for: Couples and walkers looking for calmone train stop from Rapallo and Chiavari
Beaches: Small pebble beaches, the main one under the viaduct partly freeswimming off the rocks
Best time to go: June and September for the seaspring and autumn for promenades and trails
By train: Zoagli stationGenoa–La Spezia line), regional trains only, about 400 m from the beach
By car: A12, Rapallo or Chiavari exitabout 7 km), then the Via Aurelia
Airport: Genoa (about 40 km), then trainPisa about 130 km
How long to stay: Half a day for the village and promenades3–4 days as a base for the Tigullio

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Welcome to Zoagli

Zoagli

Zoagli is a village of about 2,300 people on the Gulf of Tigullio, in the province of Genoa, squeezed between Rapallo and Chiavari. The centre sits in a small bay, right under the tall arches of the railway viaduct; behind it, steep hills of olive groves climb to three hamlets and a handful of old churches. Rapallo and Chiavari are one train stop away.

People come to Zoagli for two things. The first is the seafront promenades: two footpaths built into the cliffs from the 1930s onwards, a few metres above the waves, running east and west from the main square. The second is silk velvet: for centuries Zoagli wove for the courts and palaces of Europe, and two workshops still work on historic looms.

There are no queue-worthy monuments here and no big beaches. Zoagli is a small, quiet village: good for half a day from Rapallo, or as a calm base on the Riviera di Levante, with Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino and Sestri Levante easy to reach by train or bus, and the Cinque Terre about an hour down the line.

By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on October 10, 2026·11 min read

Where is Zoagli?

Zoagli is in Liguria (Riviera di Levante, Golfo del Tigullio, province of Genoa).

Boundaries: ISTAT, Natural Earth · Interactive map →

What to see

What to see in Zoagli

You can see the whole village on foot in a couple of hours, promenades included. The sights are close together: the square under the bridge, the church of San Martino, the two towers on the sea and the castles you admire from outside. With an extra half day, head up into the hills to the hamlets.

The railway bridge and Piazza XXVII Dicembre

The railway reached Zoagli in 1868 and crossed the bay on a high bridge above the square and the houses. It has been the village’s landmark ever since, and it was also the target of Allied bombing. On 27 December 1943 aircraft hit the line and destroyed most of the centre, killing 45 civilians; more raids followed in May and June 1944.

The main square is named after the date of the first raid. It was created by covering the mouth of the Semorile stream with the rubble of the destroyed houses, and today there is a car park underneath. That is why most of central Zoagli was rebuilt after the war: a few houses of the old village survive on the western side, while the eastern side is almost entirely new. Look at the arches from the beach and you understand the village’s story better than from any plaque.

Church of San Martino

The parish church, dedicated to the patron saint, was built in the early 18th century to a design by Antonio Maria Ricca. Badly damaged in 1943, it was rebuilt. Inside are a panel by Teramo Piaggio, a 16th-century painter born in Zoagli, and two wooden sculpture groups attributed to the school of Maragliano. Tradition says it keeps part of the ashes of St John the Baptist, brought to Genoa from the First Crusade. Outside, look at the churchyard paved in risseu, the black-and-white pebble mosaic typical of Liguria.

The seafront promenades

These are what Zoagli is known for. Two paths built into the cliffs start from the square: the eastern one, Lungomare Canevaro, runs past the Rotonda Grande lookout all the way to the railway station; the western one follows the rocks on the other side of the beach. The first sections were built in 1939 with money from local families, and the route was completed in 2003. In the evening they are lit from below and become the after-dinner stroll.

In rough seas the waves break over the paths: in October 2018 a storm brought down a long stretch, which only fully reopened in 2022. On stormy days, respect the closures. Route, history and tips are in our guide to the Zoagli seafront promenade.

Torre di Levante and Castello Canevaro

The main beach is framed by two 16th-century towers, built by the Republic of Genoa against pirates. The Torre di Levante, known as the Saracen Tower, stands on a rocky spur above the sea: it belongs to the town, was restored in 2001 and hosts exhibitions, talks and civil weddings. The Torre di Ponente, from 1547, was absorbed into Castello Canevaro, a residence begun in the early 1500s, remodelled in 1899 and partly destroyed in the war. The castle is private: you see it from the beach and the promenade.

Sem Benelli's castle

Along the Via Aurelia towards Chiavari, a castle-like building of stone and brick stands on a spur above the sea. The playwright Sem Benelli had it built in 1914, to a design by the stage designer Gian Giuseppe Mancini, and it looks like a set from one of his plays. Benelli sold it in 1943 and lived in the gardener’s house until his death in 1949. It is private and cannot be visited, but you get a good view from the road and from the sea.

Villa Vicini

In the centre, Villa Vicini is an Art Nouveau villa from 1910 with a garden of risseu paths, a rose garden and a wisteria pergola. Its last owner left it to the town, which uses it for events, talks and weddings. Nearby, Palazzo Vicini has a fresco of St George on its façade.

Sant'Ambrogio

This is the hamlet above the village, towards Rapallo. The church has medieval origins, an altar from 1707 and a statue by Maragliano; the risseu churchyard was designed in 1983 by the landscape architect Pietro Porcinai. From the square you see the whole Gulf of Tigullio as far as the Portofino headland. The poet Ezra Pound lived here for many years and walked these paths with other foreign writers.

San Pantaleo and the Castellaro

The little Romanesque church of San Pantaleo, from the 12th century, is the oldest in the area. Next to it is the Castellaro, where remains of an Iron Age settlement were found, and a stretch of the old Roman road leads down towards the village. Kandinsky painted this very spot. You reach it on foot along the crêuze, the stone mule tracks, or on the Five Bell Towers loop.

San Pietro di Rovereto and Semorile

San Pietro di Rovereto, towards Chiavari, sits on a ridge that drops straight to the sea, along the old Roman route. Its parish church, rebuilt in the 15th century, uses a Roman cinerary urn from the 1st–2nd century as a holy water font, and its risseu churchyard is multicoloured. Semorile, in the middle of the valley behind the village, is a rural hamlet with the church of San Giovanni Battista, a parish since 1619, and the start of the path to Montallegro.

Sea

Beaches in Zoagli

Zoagli has only a few beaches, all small and pebbly, separated by stretches of rock. In 2026 it does not have a Blue Flag. In return the water is clear and the rocky coast is good for snorkelling.

Barche sulla spiaggia di Zoagli sotto gli archi

Main beach

Beach clubs

under the arches of the viaduct, between the Torre di Levante and Castello Canevaro, about 400 metres from the station. Partly free, partly taken by two beach clubs. In summer it fills up early.

Spiaggia del Duca

a small beach below the castle, a few steps from the centre.

Arenella

RocksBeach clubs

to the west, a cove among the rocks run as a beach club.

Pozzetto

Pebbles

on the border with Rapallo, a shingle cove with a free section, reached by steps from the Via Aurelia. The free part has no bar and no shade.

Many people swim off the rocks along the promenades. Avoid it when the sea is rough: the waves hit the cliffs hard. For a bigger beach, go to Chiavari, which has a Blue Flag in 2026, or see the beaches of Rapallo.

Where to stay

Where to stay in Zoagli

Zoagli has few hotels, some B&Bs and farm stays, and many holiday flats, often up in the hills. It suits you if you want a quiet place by the sea with Rapallo and Chiavari one train stop away.

Near the square and the station: if you arrive by train and want the beach, promenades and restaurants on foot.
Along the Via Aurelia: villas and flats with views over the gulf, often with parking; check how long the stairs down to the sea are.
In the hills and hamlets: houses with terraces over the Tigullio, more space and more quiet. You need a car, and the roads are narrow.
In Rapallo or Chiavari: for more choice and nightlife, visiting Zoagli as a day trip.

See hotels and prices

Getting there

How to get to Zoagli

By car

Take the A12 Genoa–Livorno motorway and exit at Rapallo or Chiavari: either way it is about 7 km along the Via Aurelia, which runs through the village. In summer the Aurelia between Rapallo and Chiavari is often busy.

By train

Zoagli station is on the Genoa–La Spezia line, about 400 metres from the beach: you can walk into the centre along the eastern promenade. Only regional trains stop here. From Genova Brignole it takes about 45–60 minutes; Rapallo and Chiavari are one stop away. For the Cinque Terre, regional trains continue towards La Spezia. Timetables on Trenitalia.

By bus

AMT buses link Zoagli with Rapallo and Chiavari and climb to the hamlets. Timetables change between summer and winter: check them on the AMT website.

By boat

Zoagli has no landing stage for tourist boats. The nearest are in Rapallo, for Santa Margherita, Portofino and San Fruttuoso, and in Chiavari.

By plane

The nearest airport is Genoa Cristoforo Colombo, about 40 km away: from the city, take the train from Genova Brignole or Piazza Principe. Pisa is about 130 km away, Nice about 200 km.

Parking

Spaces are limited. In the centre there are the covered Colombo car park, with around fifty spaces, and the one under Piazza XXVII Dicembre; more spaces are on Via Merello and along the Aurelia. On summer weekends they fill up early: if you can, come by train. If you are staying in Zoagli, ask your host where to park.

Zoagli44.3368, 9.2670

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By car

A12, Rapallo or Chiavari exit (about 7 km), then the Via Aurelia

By train

Zoagli station (Genoa–La Spezia line), regional trains only, about 400 m from the beach

By plane

Genoa (about 40 km), then train; Pisa about 130 km

The guide

Zoagli velvet

Zoagli’s coat of arms shows two towers: one for the shipowners’ guild, one for the weavers’. By the 16th century the village was the velvet-weaving centre of the Riviera di Levante, and in 1536 two Zoagli weavers were sent to France to teach the craft. Its speciality was plain black velvet, worn by the nobility; until the early 1900s nearly every house had a loom, in a room with low windows to catch the light for as long as possible. Since 2003 the Liguria Region has listed Zoagli velvet among its historic crafts.

Two workshops are still active: the Seterie di Zoagli of the Cordani family, hand-weaving plain velvet on wooden looms since 1849, and Tessitura Gaggioli, working since 1932 on 19th-century mechanical looms. Their fabrics end up in palaces, churches and fashion houses. Visits to the looms are by appointment only: contact the workshops in advance, as these are working businesses, not museums.

Walks and hikes

Behind the village a network of crêuze, stairways and paths links the hamlets. The ground is steep: wear proper shoes, carry water and, in summer, walk in the morning.

Five Bell Towers loop (5 Campanili): about 11 km with about 400 m of ascent, linking San Martino, San Pietro di Rovereto, Semorile, Sant’Ambrogio and San Pantaleo. It starts from Piazza XXVII Dicembre. Every May the Pro Loco organises a non-competitive walk on the same route.
To Chiavari: from San Pietro di Rovereto the path continues via Sant’Andrea di Rovereto and the Grazie sanctuary to Chiavari. About 6.5 km, a couple of hours of easy walking; return by train.
To Montallegro: from Semorile a woodland path climbs to the Anchetta pass and the Montallegro sanctuary above Rapallo. A full-day hike; you can ride the cable car down to Rapallo.
To Rapallo: hill paths pass Sant’Ambrogio and drop down to Rapallo. Allow half a day and come back by train.

Events in Zoagli

Marcia dei 5 Campanili: the third weekend of May (in 2026 it took place on 24 May).
Madonna del Mare festival: 5 August, with an evening mass on the beach, a torchlit procession of divers carrying a wreath to the underwater statue, and fireworks.
Palio marinaro del Tigullio: between June and August the rowing races move around the villages of the gulf, Zoagli included.
San Martino: 11 November, the patron saint’s day.

Day trips from Zoagli

La costa di Zoagli verso il promontorio di Portofino

Rapallo: one train stop. Seafront, castle on the sea and cable car to Montallegro.
Chiavari: one stop east. Arcaded old town and a Blue Flag beach.
Santa Margherita Ligure: two stops. Harbour, villas and the bus or boat to Portofino.
Portofino: by bus or boat from Santa Margherita; boats to San Fruttuoso also leave from Rapallo.
Lavagna and Sestri Levante: a few minutes past Chiavari, with the widest beaches of the Tigullio and the Bay of Silence.
Camogli: about half an hour by train towards Genoa, for the fishing village and Punta Chiappa.
Monterosso: the first of the Cinque Terre, about an hour by regional train towards La Spezia.

Weather

Weather and best time to visit Zoagli

June and September for the sea; spring and autumn for promenades and trails

🌙

17°CNow · wind 17 km/h

Sun 11🌦️21° 15°2 mm
Mon 12☀️23° 16°1 mm
Tue 13☀️21° 14°
Wed 14⛅21° 14°
Thu 15🌤️23° 16°
Fri 16⛅22° 16°

Forecast: MET Norway (Yr), CC BY 4.0 licence. Updated hourly.

Zoagli weather: 10-day forecast and climate →

Weather across Liguria →

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sea	Off season	Off season	Off season	Off season	Possible	Good	Ideal	Ideal	Good	Possible	Off season	Off season
Sightseeing and hiking	Possible	Possible	Good	Ideal	Ideal	Good	Good	Good	Ideal	Ideal	Good	Possible
Crowds	Quiet	Quiet	Quiet	Few people	Few people	Busy	Very busy	Very busy	Busy	Few people	Quiet	Quiet
Don't miss					5 Campanili walk			Madonna del Mare			San Martino

IdealGoodPossibleOff season

Crowds:QuietFew peopleBusyVery busy

Gallery

Photos of Zoagli

La passeggiata a mare di Zoagli lungo la scogliera

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Zoagli

What can I see in Zoagli in a few hours?

The two seafront promenades, the beach under the railway bridge, the church of San Martino and the Torre di Levante. With an extra hour, walk up to Sant’Ambrogio for the view over the gulf.

Is the Zoagli seafront promenade open?

Yes. After the repairs that followed the 2018 storm it fully reopened in 2022 and is free to access. It may close during storms or weather alerts.

Does Zoagli have sandy beaches?

No. The beaches are small and pebbly. The main one is under the viaduct, partly free and partly run by two beach clubs.

Does Zoagli have a Blue Flag?

No, Zoagli is not on the 2026 list. In the Tigullio, Chiavari, Lavagna and Sestri Levante are among those that have one.

Do trains stop in Zoagli?

Yes, but only regional trains. From Genova Brignole it takes about 45–60 minutes; Rapallo and Chiavari are one stop away.

Can I visit a silk workshop in Zoagli?

Yes, by appointment. Two workshops are active, Cordani and Gaggioli: contact them in advance, as they are working businesses, not museums.

Where can I park in Zoagli?

In the covered Colombo car park, under Piazza XXVII Dicembre, on Via Merello and along the Aurelia. In summer spaces are scarce: the train is easier.

Is Zoagli a good base for Portofino and the Cinque Terre?

For Portofino, yes: Santa Margherita is two train stops away, then bus or boat. The Cinque Terre are about an hour by regional train; staying in Levanto or La Spezia is closer if they are your main goal.

Where is the Madonna del Mare?

It is a bronze statue about 9 metres underwater in front of the Rotonda Grande on the eastern promenade. The divers’ festival is on 5 August.

Should I stay in Zoagli or Rapallo?

Zoagli if you want quiet and the sea on your doorstep; Rapallo if you want more hotels, restaurants and boats to Portofino. They are one train stop apart.

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