Camogli

Camogli is one of the most romantic and spectacular towns in the Golfo Paradiso, on the Riviera di Levante .

What makes this seaside village such a special place is its own beautiful panorama : the charming marina, surrounded by the colorful historic buildings close to the seafront and the ruins of the medieval castle. The magnificent seaside promenade, full of typical restaurants and small B&Bs, built on the model of the promenade des Anglais in Nice, in nearby France.

Even the history of Camogli gives it a particular charm: once, in fact, it was a very important naval center in the Mediterranean and was known as “the city of a thousand white sailing ships” .

In the mid-nineteenth century, in fact, Camogli owned about 700 sailing ships and represented the third Italian power in the Mediterranean.

Camogli is a perfect day trip destination, from Genoa or from neighboring cities, but it is also a perfect destination for a vacation in total relaxation: Here time passes quietly between a day at the beach, a boat trip and a romantic dinner of fish and white wine.

Here in every season there is always something to discover and explore. In addition to the enchanted landscape, in fact, you can visit castles and museums, savor the flavors of the place and if you happen to be here at the right time to participate in the picturesque popular festivals of the city.

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In Camogli you can visit many points of historical and cultural interest as well as natural glimpses of unique beauty. The village can be easily explored on foot. For the other points of interest it is possible to use the car or the boat that sails regularly from the port of Camogli.

The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta is the church that appears in the most famous images of Camogli. In addition to admiring it from the outside, it is advisable to visit it internally. This structure was built in the 12th century on a cliff overlooking the sea and has since undergone many modifications and renovations.

The internal structure consists of three naves in the Baroque style, enriched with gilded stuccoes and crystal chandeliers. Inside there are numerous works of art and precious frescoes from the 1500s.

Castel Dragone, also known as Castello della Dragonara, was built for the first time in the 12th century and during its history it was destroyed or damaged several times: by the Milanese, the Genoese and even by pirates. Each time, however, it was rebuilt.

Over the centuries the castle had the role of a defensive structure, but it was also a meeting place for the community, as well as used as a prison.

Today of Castel Dragone only the ruins remain in which the tower and the 4 guards are clearly distinguished, and it is used to host some of the cultural activities of the city.

A visit is however recommended: from here you can admire a suggestive view and you can take wonderful photos.

A small treasure of the city of camogli is the small Gio Bono Ferrari maritime museum in Camogli. A place that the inhabitants of the Borgo are very fond of and worth a visit.

This small museum contains the true essence of Camogli’s maritime traditions: inside you can admire paintings, photographs, models and documents donated by the Camogliesi families. These objects are a small testimony of the ancient sailing ships that belonged to the owners of Camogli in the period between the Napoleonic wars and the First World War.

In the captions in the descriptions are given the surnames and nicknames of the people of Camogli with all their stories. These small details make the museum an exciting place dedicated to the memory of a millenary tradition.

Punta chiappa is one of the symbols of the city of Camogli and an unmissable point of interest for true explorers.

Here you will find a rock reaching out towards the Mediterranean at the base of the Portofino mountain. At the end of the Punta, where there was once a statue depicting the effigy of the Madonna Stella Maris – protector of sailors and venerated by the inhabitants of Camogli for centuries – today there is a mosaic.

On the first Sunday of August each year, the boats of the traditional procession from Camogli dock at this point. In the evening, thousands of candles are placed in the sea that illuminate the coast between Camogli and Punta Chiappa, creating a spectacular panorama.

A path starts from Punta Chiappa and takes you to San Fruttuoso and Portofino in about two hours.

You can also get to Punta Chiappa and the neighboring countries with the boats departing from the port of Camogli or with the boats of the fishermen who practice fishing tourism and offer excursions along the Ligurian coast with lunches based on the catch of the day.

Ruta is a small hamlet 300 meters above sea level which is located right along the Via Aurelia, on top of the Portofino mountain. The locality “Portofino Vetta” is an extraordinary panoramic point from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Golfo Paradiso and the Gulf of Tigullio.
Ruta is also the starting point of many excursions on the Portofino Promontory.

San Rocco is a hamlet of Camogli at 220 meters above sea level. It is a picturesque hamlet immersed in the vegetation of the Portofino mountain where several popular festivals take place every year. San Rocco can be reached on foot through the paths that start from Camogli or by the road that passes through Ruta.

San Fruttuoso is a magical place hidden in a small cove of the Portofino promontory. In this place, hidden between the rich green of the Portofino park and the deep blue of the sea, lies the famous Abbey of San Fruttuoso Capodimonte.

This place is a really recommended stop for those who are in Camogli or its surroundings. During the summer it is possible to reach it by boat without effort and the journey is enchanting and scenographic.

For true explorers and hikers it is also possible to reach this place on foot through the Portofino Natural Park.

The Christ of the Abyss is a unique attraction for diving enthusiasts. If you find yourself in camogli or even in San Fruttuoso it is definitely a shame not to organize a visit to this suggestive work.

The Christ of the Abyss is a bronze statue lying on the seabed fifteen meters deep in front of the bay of San Fruttuoso.

It was placed here in 1954 by Guido Galletti in memory of the dead at sea.

The dive next to this statue is truly a unique emotion. On calm sea days, even the surface of the water is perfectly visible with a mask and snorkel.

For diving enthusiasts also the Grotta dei Gamberi, near Punta Chiappa, is very interesting: it is named for an incredible number of crustaceans that rest on its walls.

From Camogli it is really easy to reach even the Pearl of the Mediterranean, Portofino .

By boat or in about half an hour by car it is possible to reach one of the most iconic places in Liguria. This magnificent village nestled in the greenery is one of the most renowned tourist resorts in the world and has always attracted thousands of visitors including artists and personalities of the international jet set.

The main beach of Camogli is the one that appears in every iconic image of this village, surrounded by the colorful houses and the promenade full of restaurants.

Here in a moment you can lie down on this expanse of pebbles and gravel to spend relaxing moments in front of the clear water of the Gulf of Camogli. During the summer season there is also an area equipped with umbrellas, sunbeds and bar service.

Camogli beach it is also particularly suitable for a day on the beach with children.

Another unmissable beach if you spend a holiday in Camogli and the San Fruttuoso Bay beach , right in front of the famous Abbey.

This lovely beach is quite small and you may find it quite crowded during the high season. It is therefore recommended to schedule a visit already from early morning to fully enjoy this magical place.

If you want to explore other beaches you will be spoiled for choice in the other famous resorts of the Riviera di Levante such as Santa Margherita Ligure and Rapallo.

The people of Camogli have a particular bond with the sea and its traditions.

The popular festivals that have made this village famous are also part of the traditions. Here, in fact, during the year there are unmissable events that attract thousands of visitors from all over the world.

If you have the opportunity to visit Camogli during one of these events, you will be able to enjoy this wonderful village in an even more authentic way.

The most famous festival of all is the Fish Festival which takes place on the first Sunday of May. During this festival, a giant pan of 28 quintals is used to fry the fish in the middle of the historic center.

This tradition began in 1952.

The evening before the beginning of the Fish Festival is celebrated the Feast of San Fortunato , which is undoubtedly the funniest party among all the popular festivals of Camogli.

During this celebration, solemn processions take place, as well as convivial bacchus, fireworks and bonfires on the beach.

The first Sunday of August is celebrated instead Stella Maris , the Madonna of the fishermen. During this festival a procession of boats leaves from the port of Camogli, to reach Punta Chiappa where mass is celebrated. In the evening, thousands of lighted candles are put into the sea which create an effect on the water that leaves you breathless.

Camogli is a very popular destination for tourists from all over the world but it is not very big. Even if over the years the choice of solutions for staying in this splendid village has expanded a lot, still today it cannot be said that there is an abundance of beds.

For this reason it is advisable to plan your stay well in advance by booking as soon as possible. In this way it will be possible to choose the ideal solution for your trip, be it a hotel, an apartment or a B&B.

To choose the right accommodation you can also not check the map: all the accommodations are in the historic center, very close to each other. The quality / price ratio of the structures in Camogli is quite good even if it cannot be said that they are cheap.

Reaching Camogli is very simple.

By car it can be reached by driving along the A12 Genoa-Livorno highway (exit: Recco) or the Aurelia highway 1.

To reach Camogli by train, the reference station is Camogli-San Fruttuoso, on the Genoa-La Spezia railway line: it is an important route with fairly frequent trains.

Camogli can be reached by bus from the main towns of Liguria. To get to camogli from the sea it is possible to take the boat from the ancient port of Genoa, from Rapallo and Santa Margherita Ligure

The closest airport to Camogli is the Genoa airport ( http://www.aeroportodigenova.it/ ), about 30 km away and easily accessible by train, bus and taxi.

CAMOGLI Meteo