Holiday apartment in Loano: discover the coast, culture and trails

Loano combines a Ligurian coast with sandy beaches and lush Mediterranean vegetation with a historic townscape, maritime heritage and paths leading into the countryside. This creates a destination where you can vary the balance between days by the water, cultural discoveries and active pursuits. Choosing a holiday apartment in Loano can therefore be guided by your preferred daily rhythm: between coast, local history, culinary enjoyment and activity.

Holiday apartment in Loano between the coast and local history

The coast of Loano combines sandy beaches with Mediterranean greenery. In the medieval old town at the foot of the castle, by contrast, the route leads into a historic setting surrounded by walls. The old town was established in the 16th and 17th centuries on the remains of an earlier fortification and was built at the behest of the Doria family. The railway station is also part of the townscape and useful for orientation: it is located in the town centre and lies on the Genoa–Ventimiglia railway line.

The Duomo di Loano stands in the historic centre, a decagonal church built by the Doria family between 1633 and 1638. It preserves paintings from the 17th century as well as works by Orazio De Ferrari, Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo and Domenico Fiasella. Palazzo Doria was built in 1578 as the residence of Giovanni Andrea Doria and Zenobia Del Carretto. Inside, there is a mosaic floor dating from the 3rd century, originating from archaeological excavations in the surrounding area.

Maritime traces and special discoveries

The Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista preserves an urn containing part of the ashes of John the Baptist and other martyrs. The ancient Roman Pontasso Bridge, whose large stone arches are still clearly visible, offers another perspective on the town's history. At the Museo del Mare e della Marineria, you can see a permanent exhibition of maritime objects, including scale ship models, historical equipment, documents and photographs.

The Santuario dei Santi Cosma e Damiano on Poggio di San Damiano is surrounded by a panoramic area with olive trees; the original church was built around 1070. Marina di Loano is a marina in Liguria, in the heart of the Riviera di Ponente near Monaco and Portofino. It can accommodate yachts up to 85 metres long.

Hiking, focaccia and sailing courses

Loano offers several clearly distinct experiences for active days. A hiking trail begins at Corso Roma, leads past the ancient settlement of Mazzocchi and continues to Borgo Castello. A 14.5-kilometre trail combines experiences in nature with the characteristic scents of the Mediterranean maquis, including thyme and rosemary. The different trail lengths help you adapt your plans to the desired duration of the day.

The Fugassa Tour is a self-guided tour through bakeries in Loano, where you can discover 13 different types of focaccia. On the water, Circolo Nautico Loano offers sailing courses for children and adults. The Festa delle Basüe traditionally takes place in Loano in mid-August as a historical re-enactment, adding a special date to the cultural programme.

More destinations in the region

For regional orientation, you can also take a closer look at Coasco, Piana Crixia, Albissola Marina, Zuccarello, Marina di Andora, Savona, Noli and Stellanello.

For the overarching travel overview: Savona.