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Sagra del Pesce di Camogli

The Camogli Fish Festival

Camogli is still preserving its ancient maritime traditions. Its tall houses overlooking the beautiful beach and the quaint, colourful little harbour where fishermen’s boats sway in the sun, are the ideal setting for one of the most eagerly awaited and beloved traditional events for locals and numerous visitors.

Ogni anno, la seconda domenica di maggio si svolge infatti a Camogli la famosa Sagra del Pesce, un evento che vanta ormai una lunga tradizione.

The port of Camogli during the Fish Festival

The idea originated back in 1952, when lawyer Filippo De Gregori thought of attracting visitors to Camogli by organising an event during which fish caught by local fishermen was fried in 6 frying pans and distributed to participants.

The fish fries in the big frying pan

The initiative was so successful that the Camoglini fishermen decided to repeat it every year. Two of them, Lorenzo Viacava, known as ‘o Napoli’, and Lorenzo Gelosi, known as ‘Cen’, came up with the idea of building a large frying pan to create a spectacular fry-up. It soon changed to one large frying pan. In 1960, the diameter reached 6 metres. Currently, the stainless steel pan has a diameter of 4 metres and a handle length of 6 metres and can fry more than 30,000 portions in a single day, using 3 tonnes of fresh fish and 3,000 litres of oil.

The large frying pan at the Camogli Fish Festival

And also thanks to this huge pan, the Camogli Fish Festival has become increasingly popular over time, attracting more and more tourists.

The evening before the festival there is a celebration in honour of St Fortunato, Patron Saint of Fishermen. The heavy chest with the statue of the saint is carried in procession by eight fishermen and at 11pm the traditional bonfire is lit.

The programme is completed with the presence of gastronomic stands where you can taste Ligurian specialities, markets and a fireworks display.

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How to reach Portofino Coast
Mappa Portofino Coast

BY PLANE
– Cristoforo Colombo International Airport in Genoa, about 30 km
– Galileo Galilei International Airport of Pisa – 130 km
– Malpensa International Airport of Milan – 200 km
– Linate International Airport of Milan – 170 km
– Nice International Airport – 200 km
Shutter service or private cars transfers may be arranged to/from the airports on request

BY SEA
Genoa Maritime Terminal, about 25 kilometres away

BY CAR
A12 Motorway: Exits in Recco, Rapallo, Chiavari, Lavagna and Sestri Levante providing convenient access from any direction.
The main panoramic coastal road, the Via Aurelia (SS1), connects all the seaside resorts.

BY TRAIN
Stations located in the towns of Recco, Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Zoagli, Chiavari, Lavagna, Cavi, Sestri Levante, Riva Trigoso and Moneglia.