| Destination of the week: |
| | Camogli, Liguria |
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Camogli doesn’t grab the headlines and the Hollywood jetset that Portofino, a few miles along the Italian Riviera coast, does.
But this beautiful fishing village in Liguria boasts a serene charm to match its more famous neighbour.
One of the first things that strikes visitors to Camogli is the row of pastel-coloured buildings next to one another along the harbour – a common feature of Liguria properties on this part of the Italian Riviera coast.
Folklore has it Camogli (Camuggi in Genovese) derives from Ca’ a muggi in the local dialect – “a cluster of houses”.
Unlike Portofino, Camogli is not submerged under a tidal wave of high-season visitors. But it’s a secret that is gradually being uncovered; each summer sees a tourist influx that almost doubles its 7,000 population.
Liguria property for sale
Many who visit this beautiful region are keen to buy Liguria property for sale. Camogli boasts stunning Liguria properties, in particular on the coast, where a two-bedroom sea-view apartment will cost around €500,000. Prices are similar in Sori, four miles away.
And in Recco, just a couple of miles from Camogli, €200,000 will get you a one-bedroom apartment while for a two-bedroom apartment budget €300,000.
However, in this area of Liguria properties have great rental potential; as well as the picturesque coastal villages and superb beaches, Portofino is 20 minutes away and the breath-taking Cinque Terre coast just over an hour away.
Prices of Liguria property for sale naturally tend to come down significantly once you leave the coast. Venture 10 miles inland, to Lumarzo, and you can pick up a 150sq m property to restore for just €50,000.
Camogli’s most famous event is its annual Sagra del Pesce (Fish Festival), held on the second weekend of May and dating back to 1952.
Saturday sees the blessing of the fish along with fireworks and bonfire displays. On Sunday a four-metre frying pan – said to be the world’s largest – is used to fry freshly caught seafood.
Despite the changes the village has undergone, seen in its numerous chic boutiques and classy cafes, its heart remains its charming harbour.
There can be little more relaxing than a leisurely stroll down Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, along the waterfront, and stopping for an ice cream or a cappuccino and focaccia at a cafe.
If you’re feeling a bit more peckish, try the excellent seafood and the local Camogliesi delicacies – a cream-puff containing chocolate. And in keeping with Camogli’s charming seafaring tradition, you may even spot fishermen knitting and mending their nets.
Camogli boasts five churches but the most imposing is the 13th century basilica Santa Maria Assunta (pictured above), located on a promontory.
It sits above a long flight of marble steps and large cobbled square and boasts a neoclassical exterior and a baroque interior.
Its treasures include a wooden statue of the saint after which it is named; its floor, inlaid with marble of various colours; and two large windows featuring San Fortunato Martire and San Prospero. Much of the art and gold inside was donated by fishermen’s families after their deaths.
Next to it, towering over the sea, is the Dragone Castle, destroyed and rebuilt on several occasions. The present structure dates from the 15th century.
It was built as a defensive fort against pirate incursions but has also housed a prison and an aquarium. Today it is home to a mariner’ s museum.
Italians call Camogli the City of the Thousand White Sailing Ships, in honour of its proud maritime traditions. Its Cristoforo Colombo nautical institute also trains many of Italy’s naval officers.
How to get here:
International flights land at Genoa, from which Camogli is a 20-minute train journey away.
For more information visit the website of the Italian Government Tourist Board. |
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