Camogli
Welcome to Camogli, the city of a thousand white sailboats
Hello everyone! Today I will tell you about Camogli, a beautiful tourist center in Liguria known for its harbor and colorful palaces along the promenade. The town, also called the "city of a thousand white sailboats," is located in the metropolitan city of Genoa and has a population of about 5,000.
The physical geography of Camogli
Camogli is located on the Riviera di Levante, east of Genoa, and overlooks the Golfo Paradiso. The city center is located in the valley west of Portofino Mountain, which reaches a height of 610 meters. Camogli is surrounded by other peaks like Monte delle Bocche, Monte Tocco, Monte Esoli, Monte di Ruta, and Monte Campana. The town is also part of the Portofino Regional Natural Park, a protected area where one can enjoy the beauty of nature.
The architecture of Camogli
The architecture of Camogli is particularly interesting and original. The colorful houses overlooking the beach are a distinctive feature of the town. The colors and clear horizontal lines served Camogli sailors to easily recognize their own homes among the various floors of the village's palaces and to return after fishing. Most of the buildings in the historic center were built with additions and modifications over the centuries. Often, the modifications also affected individual rooms, which radically changed the aesthetic appearance of the palace. If Camogli sailors had a child or earned enough during their long voyage, they would often add a new room to the existing palace.
In 1913, to make way for tourist strolls, the palaces facing the sea were demolished, creating the promenade and the 20th-century style roundabout. The choice to demolish was also dictated by the condition of the stone and wood palaces, prey to waves and saltwater. The beach, which was very small before, was expanded due to the construction of the Genoa-Pisa Railway track, with the opening of the galleries to the east and west. From the waste material of the railway works, the transformation of the land near the railway itself was also obtained, creating the embankment that now constitutes the base of Piazza Matteotti, where the Social Theater is located.
The particularity of the buildings built a short distance from the sea is due to the characteristics of the territory. Camogli is located along the slopes of a hill almost perpendicular to the sea. This orographic aspect guarantees the city a particularly mild climate, typical of some eastern Genoa locations, which does not allow cold winds from the Po Valley to pass through. Precisely for this reason, Camogli is a popular tourist destination.
What to do in Camogli
Camogli offers many opportunities to have fun and relax. Showing off its characteristic harbor, the city is the ideal place for a romantic stroll or a dinner of fresh fish. The harbor is also the starting point for guided tours to other destinations on the Ligurian Riviera.
Camogli is also the ideal starting point to reach Portofino and its famous bay. You can opt for a ferry ride, which offers a breathtaking view of the Ligurian coast, or for a kayak or canoe trip.
If you are sporty, Camogli also offers many outdoor activities, such as hiking or cycling along the trails starting from the city center. You can also relax on the beach and swim in the crystal clear waters of the Golfo Paradiso.
Conclusion
In short, Camogli is a beautiful tourist destination that offers a perfect mix of sea, history, and nature. If you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy the scenery, choose Camogli, the city of a thousand white sailboats!
