What to do in Camogli

If you are spending a few days on the Portofino Coast, you cannot miss a visit to Camogli, one of the most beautiful seaside villages in Liguria.

Located just 23 km from Genoa, along the slopes of Mount Portofino, it is known as The Town of a Thousand White Sailboats because of its seafaring tradition dating back to the 17th century, when local ship-owners began building larger and larger sailing ships to trade around the world.

The origin of the name is uncertain. It could go back to the name of an Etruscan deity ( Camulio – god of war) or Celtic ( Camolio), but also from Cà a mȗggi”heaps of houses huddled together to gain space, or by “cà de möggê”home of the wives, as the men, in this village of sailors and fishermen, were always at sea.

Camogli is characterised by its typical tall, colourful houses overlooking the beach and its characteristic small port of ancient origins that has preserved its atmosphere intact over the centuries.

Our walk starts from Via Garibaldi. Proceeding towards the sea, we immediately come across a small widening where the large frying pan, the protagonist of one of Camogli’s most typical events, La Sagra del Pesce (The Fish Festival), is kept.

A narrow carrugio then leads us to the waterfront along which the tall, colourful houses that characterise the village stand. There we come across quaint little shops, restaurants and typical eateries with their terraces overlooking the beautiful beach

The seaside promenade leads to the Basilica dell’Assunta, built in the 12th century. Having undergone numerous renovations, today it has a neoclassical façade that stands on a churchyard characterised by a risseu mosaic, typical of Ligurian churches. Its interior contains valuable frescoes and statues, including works by Nicolò Barabino and Francesco Semino, and the urn containing the remains of St Fortunato.

Next to the Basilica, overlooking the small harbour, is the Castello del Dragone or Dragonara, the other symbol of the city. It is a fortress dating back to 1130, rebuilt several times until 1560 when it lost its military functions. Today it is home to a civic cultural centre and hosts exhibitions and events.

The harbour area is very colourful and characteristic. Here the fishermen’s boats are moored and from here tourist boats depart for S. Fruttuoso and other places along the coast.

Camogli’s seafaring traditions are recounted in the Camogli Maritime Museum, which houses three hundred years of the history of the Camogliese Marina Velica and its protagonists: ship-owners, captains and sailors