{"id":53584,"date":"2026-09-30T16:30:48","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T16:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/darkseagreen-rook-345411.hostingersite.com\/liguria\/bergeggi\/"},"modified":"2026-10-08T07:06:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T07:06:03","slug":"bergeggi","status":"publish","type":"localita","link":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-ponente\/bergeggi\/","title":{"rendered":"Bergeggi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bergeggi is a small town on the Riviera delle Palme, between Vado Ligure and Spotorno, about 10 km west of Savona and roughly an hour’s drive from Genoa. It has just over a thousand residents and two sides: the old village, about 110 metres above the sea on the slopes of Monte Sant’Elena, and the coast below the Via Aurelia, with its beaches, the seaside district of Torre del Mare and, just offshore, the island everyone photographs.<\/p>\n

You come here for the sea. The island, the facing coast and the Grotta Marina have been a regional nature reserve since 1985 and a Marine Protected Area since 2007: seagrass meadows, white limestone cliffs, clear water and clear rules on where you can swim and where boats can go. In 2026 two of the town’s beaches, Villaggio del Sole and Il Faro, hold the Blue Flag.<\/p>\n

Bergeggi has no train station and no seafront promenade. It is a place to be in the water: snorkelling, paddling round the island by kayak and walking the trails above the village. It works as a beach day from Genoa or Savona, or as a quiet base for this part of the Ligurian coast, far from the crowds of the Cinque Terre and Portofino.<\/p>\n

What to see in Bergeggi<\/h2>\n
\"Bergeggi<\/figure>\n

The sights are few but varied: the island and the sea cave from the water, the beaches, the old village with its towers, and the trails on Monte Sant’Elena. In one day you can swim in the morning and walk up to the village in the late afternoon, when it is cooler.<\/p>\n

Bergeggi Island<\/h3>\n
\"Bergeggi<\/figure>\n

This limestone rock, 53 metres high and covered in Mediterranean scrub, lies just over 200 metres off Punta Predani. In Roman times a round tower stood on the summit, probably a lighthouse for ships heading to Vada Sabatia, today’s Vado Ligure; its ruins are still there. In 992 the bishop of Savona founded a monastery here dedicated to Saint Eugene and entrusted it to monks from L\u00e9rins, near Cannes. Only stretches of wall remain.<\/p>\n

Landing on the island is not allowed: you see it from the shore, by kayak, by boat or while swimming in the permitted zones. Rules, zones and tips are in our guide to Bergeggi Island and the Marine Protected Area<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Grotta Marina (sea cave)<\/h3>\n
\"Sea<\/figure>\n

The cave opens in the cliff right below the Via Aurelia and is considered the largest sea-flooded cave in Liguria. Above water there is a large chamber where the sea flows in; below, it continues with tunnels, chambers and brackish pools. Neolithic finds show it was used both as a shelter and as a burial place.<\/p>\n

You can only visit from the sea, by kayak or on a guided trip, and only when the sea is calm. Access is regulated by the Marine Protected Area: check the latest information on the Bergeggi Island MPA website<\/a> before you go.<\/p>\n

Punta Predani<\/h3>\n

The headland facing the island is where it looks closest. Below is a small pebble cove reached on foot by a moderately steep path: clear water, rock and sand on the bottom, good for snorkelling. The sea in front is Zone B of the protected area, so swimming is allowed.<\/p>\n

Torre del Mare<\/h3>\n

The seaside district grew up as a holiday resort between the 1950s and 1970s. Today it has most of the holiday flats, beach clubs and services. The cliff at Torre del Mare gives one of the best views of the island and is the place to check sea conditions before you rent a kayak.<\/p>\n

The old village<\/h3>\n

The old village clusters around the church, with low houses, small squares and views over the Gulf of Vado. It is not as picturesque as Noli<\/a> or Finalborgo<\/a>, but it is quiet and you can walk round it in half an hour.<\/p>\n

Church of San Martino<\/h3>\n

The parish church of Saint Martin of Tours, the town’s patron saint, was built in 1706. Inside are a 16th-century painting of the Madonna of the Rosary and a crucifix attributed to Anton Maria Maragliano, the great Genoese woodcarver. The patron’s feast day is 11 November.<\/p>\n

Torre d’Ere and Torre Rovere<\/h3>\n

These 15th-century watchtowers date from the time when the coast defended itself against raids from the sea. Torre d’Ere gives its name to the square where the botanical trail starts; Torre Rovere is another of the area’s fortified points. You see both from outside.<\/p>\n

Monte Sant’Elena fort and the Castellaro<\/h3>\n

On top of Monte Sant’Elena, 347 metres, parts of the fort that once guarded the village survive. It is a viewpoint over the whole gulf and a take-off point for paragliders. Nearby, the Castellaro archaeological area has remains of a settlement of the ancient Ligurians, before the Romans.<\/p>\n

Beaches in Bergeggi<\/h2>\n
\"Bergeggi<\/figure>\n

The beaches are small, with coarse sand and pebbles, tucked between white cliffs. In summer, beach clubs alternate with free stretches; free spots fill up early, especially at weekends. Bring water shoes.<\/p>\n

Villaggio del Sole and Il Faro<\/h3>\n

These are the town’s two Blue Flag beaches for 2026. Il Faro, towards Torre del Mare, has pebbles and a rocky seabed: you wade in with water shoes and can snorkel a few metres from the shore.<\/p>\n

Lido delle Sirene<\/h3>\n
\"Spiaggia<\/figure>\n

Sand and pebbles, a gently shelving seabed and a direct view of the island. It is easy to reach from the Via Aurelia and has beach clubs, making it the most practical choice for families with children.<\/p>\n

Coves and cliffs<\/h3>\n
\"Bergeggi<\/figure>\n

Along the protected coast there are rocky coves you can only reach from the sea or by demanding paths. If you arrive by kayak, remember that the sea off the south side of the island is Zone A: swimming is forbidden there.<\/p>\n

Things to do in Bergeggi<\/h2>\n