Hidden gems in Italy: discovering Camogli

The village of Camogli has prehistoric origins. This is proven by historical artefacts found after a series of excavations in the 1960s and 1970s. The finds date back to the 16th and 13th centuries BC. Other artefacts found in the same area date back to the 2nd century B.C., in Roman times.

With the rule of the bishops of Milan, around the year 1000, "coastal and maritime Camogli" began to form and Camogli began to be mentioned in texts of the time where it appears under the name Vila Camuli. In the 12th century, the Dragonara Castle was erected to defend the seaside village, which is still visible today.

In 1853, Camogli reached its greatest moment of glory, owning a fleet of over 500 boats, thus earning the appellation "City of a Thousand White Sailboats".

The historical centre of Camogli is characterised by tall houses (reaching up to six floors in height) attached one to the other to take advantage of the little space available behind the mountain.

The buildings along the seafront have the most varied shades of colour, a typical feature of many seaside villages to make it easier for fishermen to recognise their homes.

Along the beach, close to the tall buildings there is the beautiful Garibaldi promenade, lined with shops, restaurants and bars with outdoor tables. The promenade leads to the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta.

Going further on, you reach the characteristic small harbour of Camogli, nestled between the colourful buildings, where fishermen's boats are moored.

Among the historical buildings there is the Dragonara Castle. The fortress was erected in medieval times in defence of the village and the coast, destroyed several times but then always rebuilt by the inhabitants of Camogli. In the 16th century, the castle was abandoned as a defensive post and was eventually used as a prison.

During the 1970s, after several decades of neglect, the manor was recovered and used to house the Tyrrhenian Aquarium. The aquarium included several tanks containing seawater where specimens of marine fauna typical of Camogli's waters could find their natural habitat: a kind of ancestor of today's Aquarium of Genoa. In fact, when this small "aquatic museum" closed, the fish and crustaceans present were transferred to the Aquarium of Genoa.

The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta stands on the ancient island, a large rock once detached from the mainland, where the original core of Camogli was concentrated. The castle also stands perched here.

According to historical sources, the Basilica, which can be reached from the small square in the nearby harbour by climbing a large flight of steps, dates back to the 12th century.

The exterior façade is very simple, while inside, there are three naves in Baroque style, covered in precious gold stucco and polychrome marble, with a frescoed vault from the late 19th century.

The side chapels and the vault are decorated with sculptures and paintings by artists of the Genoese school. On the high altar is a wooden statue of the Assumption, and inside the church is a precious organ from 1873.

Visiting the Basilica with all the lights on is impressive and conveys a sense of peace.