Discover Camogli: Coast, Culture and Festivals

Camogli combines a colorful waterfront promenade with maritime culture, a historic religious building and festivals that visibly relate to the water.

Promenade, Beach and Maritime History

Camogli’s waterfront promenade is framed by continuous rows of colorful façades and a long pebble beach. The rocky cliff of San Rocco is one of the geosites of Parco di Portofino. The Civico Museo Marinaro "Gio Bono Ferrari" was founded in 1937 and comprises more than 2,000 maritime objects. The Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta dates back to the 12th century. The 12th-century basilica and the museum founded in 1937 thus provide two different historical reference points. The Tigullio Museum Galleria d'Arte di Giuseppe Lebano is also located in the vicinity of Camogli.

Stella Maris Between Procession and a Play of Lights

The Stella Maris event originated in the 15th century and always takes place on the first Sunday in August. During the morning procession, the rowing boat Dragun takes the priest to the Stella Maris altar at Punta Chiappa; decorated boats follow it. In the evening, floating biodegradable lights are placed on the water, while the Dragun passes by accompanied by canoes in a play of light and music. The fixed Sunday in August provides a clear date for annual planning. The procession and play of lights divide the festival into a morning and an evening section. The proceedings run from morning to evening and combine a procession, decorated boats, lights and music.

By Boat to Punta Chiappa

A boat trip from Camogli takes you to Punta Chiappa and onward to the bay of San Fruttuoso. Punta Chiappa marks the outermost section of the Portofino marine protected area. This connection brings water, coastal landscape and protected marine space into a shared perspective. The route thus keeps the coastal point, bay and marine protected area together in a clear sequence.

An Unusual Festival in May

On the second Sunday in May, several hundredweight of fish are fried in a stainless-steel pan with a diameter of 3.8 meters, a 6-meter-long handle, a weight of 2.8 tonnes and a capacity of 2,000 liters, and distributed free of charge to thousands of guests. The six-meter-long handle is longer than the pan’s diameter of 3.8 meters. The unusual dimensions and the distribution to many people make this date a notable part of the year in Camogli. Alongside the August date of Stella Maris, there is therefore also a fixed Sunday in May in the town’s annual calendar.

The two festival Sundays in May and August complement the waterfront promenade, museum, basilica, art in the surrounding area and the boat trip to Punta Chiappa and San Fruttuoso with fixed dates throughout the year.

Other places for planning your trip include Recco, Tiglieto, Casella, Comeglio, Coreglia Ligure, Velva, Sanguineto and Serra Riccò.

For the overarching travel overview: Genoa.