Camogli, Italy: travel guide to the colourful fishing village, the Dragonara Castle and the Sagra del Pesce

Camogli is a historic seaside town on the Ligurian Riviera, in north-western Italy, set along the Golfo Paradiso a short distance from Genoa. Famous for its tall, pastel-coloured houses rising above a pebble beach and a working harbour, it offers an authentic Ligurian experience away from the crowds of nearby Portofino and the Cinque Terre.

For travellers searching for Camogli Liguria, the Italian Riviera, the Dragonara Castle or the Sagra del Pesce fish festival, Camogli is one of the most evocative maritime villages in the region, where fishing remains central to local life.

History

Camogli's origins reach back to ancient times, with evidence of Roman presence in the area. It was known from the 10th century as a hub for tuna and shrimp fishing and later became one of the most important ports of the Republic of Genoa. During its golden age it was home to such a large fleet of sailing ships that it earned the nickname Città dei mille velieri, the City of a Thousand Sailing Ships.

Main sights

On a rocky point at the edge of the beach stand the town's two great landmarks: the Castello della Dragonara, a medieval castle built as a watchtower in the 13th century to defend the village against Saracen pirate raids, and the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, a church set on the rocks by the sea whose Baroque interior holds a painting by the Ligurian master Luca Cambiaso. The Maritime Museum (Museo Marinaro) tells the story of the town's seafaring past, while the colourful harbour, lined with wooden fishing boats, leads to the ferry for the secluded San Fruttuoso Abbey.

Festivals and gastronomy

Every second Sunday of May, Camogli celebrates the Sagra del Pesce, a fish festival held since 1952 in which an enormous frying pan set up by the harbour is used to fry tonnes of fresh fish, served free to visitors. The eve of the festival sees the Festa di San Fortunato, dedicated to the patron of fishermen, with processions and bonfires on the beach. On the first Sunday of August the Stella Maris honours the Madonna with sea processions. Local cuisine features focaccia, pesto, marinated anchovies and fresh seafood.

Practical information

Camogli is easily reached by train from Genoa, with its station within walking distance of the sea. The compact historic centre is explored on foot, and the surrounding Portofino Regional Natural Park offers more than 80 kilometres of coastal and woodland trails.