From Savona to Arenzano

Savona

The city of Savona, with nearly 60,000 inhabitants, is considered one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean both for tourism, as a cruise stopover, and for commerce. One of its symbols is undoubtedly the Priamar, a large 16th-century military fortress that overlooks the coast, and also served as a prison, among other things. It was built by the Genoese to assert their supremacy over the city. Today it houses the Archaeological Museum and the city museum, recounting history from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages, and the Sandro Pertini Museum, which brings together the artworks of two collectors.
Near the fortress, the old dock is the heart of the city, and near its port, the Brandale tower dates from the 12th century, next to the 14th-century palace and its collection of tombstones.
The Sistine Chapel of Savona is a Gothic treasure of the region, commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV, a native of the province of Savona, and embellished over time. It can be discovered with guided tours. It is near the Cathedral of the Assumption from the 17th century.
The Savona art gallery preserves medieval, Renaissance, modern and contemporary paintings in a 16th-century palace. It houses in particular the collection of icons depicting the Virgin with three hands. The city also has a Ceramics Museum, and the All About Apple Museum displaying 9,000 items such as personal computers recounting the history of computing. The Leon Pancaldo Tower is the other medieval tower of the city, built at the end of the 14th century.
Near the center, the Villa Cambiaso is a rich noble palace with beautiful Italian gardens and the fountain attributed to Bernini.
A few kilometers from Savona, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy from the 17th century is located in a beautiful valley setting, with a Mannerist church.
Several beaches are accessible, such as the large beach up to the mouth of the Letimbro river.

Celle Ligure

Celle Ligure is a beautiful town on the Ligurian Riviera, both for water and sports activities and for vacations, with a pleasant beach. The village is also listed among the “most beautiful villages in Italy”. Part of the town is modern at Piani di Celli, while to the west lies the historic heart. The two are connected by a beautiful promenade through an old tunnel.
The historic part has a beautiful beach in front of a row of beautiful colorful houses.
There are beautiful sites, such as the Crovara promontory, the Roman promenade in the hinterland, and the pretty churches.

Varazze

Varazze is a coastal town rich in history and a seaside resort, with its beautiful villas, churches and fortresses dating back to the Middle Ages.
Besides the pebble and sand beaches, hiking trails run through the Beigua Natural Park.
The historic center of medieval origin is charming, with pretty palaces and churches, the caruggi (typical Ligurian alleys) and picturesque squares.
The Lungomare Europa is a beautiful seafront, in fact a converted railway line over 5 km, between Varazze and Cogoleto, running alongside sand or pebble beaches with its bike path, passing near small caves, etc. On the other side, the Lungomare Varazze-Celle Ligure is a 4-kilometer promenade with its footbridge and beautiful views of the coast and Mediterranean vegetation, passing near small beaches.
On Mount Grosso, which overlooks the sea from its 400 meters of altitude, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Guard enjoys a privileged position with its breathtaking view of the Ligurian coast. It is reached by one of the charming trails of about 2.5 km in nearly an hour’s walk. Very beautiful hills extend up there.

Lungomare Europa

The Lungomare Europa is a beautiful seafront connecting Varazze to Cogoleto, an old railway line converted over 5 km, with a bike path passing in front of beaches and caves.
On the other side, the Lungomare from Varazze to Celle, which runs along the road, has been developed over 4 km and offers beautiful views of the coast and vegetation.

Arenzano

20 km from Genoa, Arenzano is a pleasant town between the coastline and mountains. Its pleasant park of the Villa Negrotto Cambiaso is close to the sea, known for its beautiful peacocks and botanical diversity, and whose elegant villa, from the late 19th century, now houses the town hall. The beautiful Art Nouveau-style greenhouse from 1931 has a glass and iron structure of 350 m².
The historic center of Arenzano is inherited from the fishing village, with its charming typical Ligurian streets, pastel houses, beautiful squares and historic palaces.
On the seafront, which can be discovered especially by bike, the Villa Figoli des Geneys has a park with pretty flowered paths.
The Sanctuary of the Infant Jesus of Prague Arenzano is one of the most beautiful churches in Liguria, with its beautiful stained glass windows and frescoes, the permanent ceramic nativity scene, the botanical garden and the nursery,
filled with rare African and South American specimens.
The Church of Saints Nazarius and Celsus has a superb Baroque interior with its eight side altars, decorated with precious marbles, stuccoes, columns and paintings.

Map

Information

• Savona: en.wikipedia.org, turismo.savona.it
• Celle Ligure: www.turismocelleligure.it, turismo.savona.it
• Varazze: turismo.savona.it
• Arenzano: en.wikipedia.org, thisisliguria.com, www.arenzanoturismo.it, www.parcobeigua.it