Santa Margherita Ligure (Santa Margàita in Ligurian) is an Italian town of 8 935 inhabitants in the metropolitan city of Genoa in Liguria. It is the eighth municipality in the metropolitan area by number of inhabitants.
Regions
Come by
Nozarego — Nozarego can be defined as a natural
panoramic terrace overlooking the entire Gulf of Tigullio. Here is the
local parish church of Santa Maria Assunta with the square in typical
Ligurian cobblestones (risseu). It is located about 2 km from the
center, reachable both by car and on foot, along the creuze, the paths
immersed between the gray stone of the dry stone walls and the green of
the rich local vegetation. Several paths of the Portofino Regional
Natural Park also start from Nozarego.
San Lorenzo della Costa —
Located on the slopes of the mountain, to the north, along the Aurelia
provincial road that leads to Genoa, is the hamlet of San Lorenzo della
Costa in whose church of the same name, from the 13th century, a Flemish
triptych is preserved.
Basilica of Santa Margherita and sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rose in
the capital. The construction of the church was begun in 1658 on the
remains of a XIII century building; the bell tower on the right is from
1750 and the façade dates back to the same period. The church is
characterized by a Latin cross plan, a dome and three naves divided by
columns. In the facade there are niches with statues of St. Peter and
St. Paul. The bell tower on the left side is from 1927.
Parish church
of San Giacomo di Corte and shrine of Our Lady of the Letter in the
historic district of Corte. In ancient times, the parish church was
subjected to the jurisdiction of the abbot of the abbey of San Fruttuoso
di Camogli. This property was established by Pope Innocent II in 1130
and confirmed by Pope Alexander III in 1164.
Parish church of San
Siro in the district of the same name.
Church of the Capuchin friars
in the capital. Located near the Sammargheri seafront, near the local
castle, it was built in 1608 together with the adjacent convent of the
Capuchin friars. Noteworthy inside are a 15th-century wooden crucifix
and a marble sculpture from the second half of the 12th century
depicting the Madonna enthroned, a proto-Gothic style work created by a
sculptor from the French region of Île-de- France.
Oratory of Our
Lady of Sorrows in the capital. Located in the historic village of
Pescino, it is a Baroque-style building from the 14th century. Inside
there is an organ by the Roccatagliata brothers.
Oratory of the
Madonna del Suffragio, della Buona Morte e Orazione in the capital.
Oratory of Saints Bernard and Lucia in the San Siro district. Dating
back to the seventeenth century and renovated towards the end of the
nineteenth century, it is the property of the Archconfraternity of San
Bernardo.
Chapel of the Madonna della Neve in the capital, dating
back to the 19th century.
Parish church of Santa Maria Assunta and
sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Carmine in the hamlet of Nozarego. Like
San Giacomo di Corte, the parish church of Nozarego was formerly subject
to the abbey of San Fruttuoso. It therefore followed the same
historical-religious events of the Court community. Elected provost in
1919, she assumed the title of sanctuary of Our Lady of Carmine from 1
November 1947.
Church of Our Lady of Suffrage in the hamlet of
Nozarego. The first place of worship in the hamlet, the first news of
the church dates back to 2 July 1413 with the election of the parish
priest don Bartolomeo Guarello. With the building of the parish church
of Santa Maria Assunta, the annexed church of Suffragio became a
subsidiary church. The structure has a single rectangular hall, devoid
of decorations or pictorial representations, leaning against the main
body of the parish church of Nozarego.
Chapel of San Girolamo delle
Gave. The chapel, built in the 19th century, can be reached by a path
which, starting from the parish church of Nozarego, climbs up the slopes
of Monte Brano (313 m). The path then continues towards the Cervara
abbey or towards the bay of Paraggi.
Parish church of San Lorenzo in
the hamlet of San Lorenzo della Costa. Originally built in Romanesque
style, the current marble façade was built in 1902. With three naves and
eight side chapels, among the paintings and sculptures preserved there
is the famous Triptych of Saint Andrew in the third chapel of the left
nave.
Oratory of Suffrage and Death in the hamlet of San Lorenzo
della Costa, from the 18th century.
Abbey complex of Cervara in the
locality of the same name. It rises among dense and rich vegetation just
above the road that runs along the Costa dei Delfini, the provincial
road 227, between Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. The complex
consists of a church, a monastery and a large park with a garden. In
1912 it was declared an Italian national monument. Currently in the
abbey, privately owned but can be visited for a fee, wedding parties are
held.
Villa Durazzo-Centurione. Complex consisting of two villas
(Durazzo-Centurione and San Giacomo), a large seventeenth-century park
in which there is an interesting Italian garden with paths in typical
Ligurian cobblestone called risseu. Inside Villa Durazzo it is possible
to visit the "Vittorio Giovanni Rossi" art museum, dedicated to the
well-known San Margheritese writer and journalist, as well as the
Prince's apartments and the "Bellometti" collection.
Villa Argentina,
in the capital, built in 1912 and formerly owned by the Roccatagliata
family.
Villa Lo Faro, in the capital, built during the 19th century
in neo-Romanesque style to a design by Luigi Rovelli.
Villa Larco, in
the capital, built during the 19th century.
Marble monument to
Christopher Columbus, near the seafront, created by the sculptor Odoardo
Tabacchi in 1892.
Imperial Palace Hotel. Built in 1889 as a villa for
a noble family of Corsican origin, it was enlarged in 1905 with a wing
used as a hotel, further enlarged in 1910. It was especially famous at
the end of the Belle Époque, when it was often frequented by aristocrats
and famous people. On 16 April 1922 it hosted the signing of the Treaty
of Rapallo which sanctioned the separate peace between the Russian SFSR
and Germany and the end, also at a diplomatic level, of the First World
War. The name of the treaty is due to the fact that the Imperiale Palace
Hotel was then located in the Rapallo area. On 10 August 1928, the
border between the two municipalities was changed and the structure
found itself within the territory of Santa Margherita Ligure.
Villa Durazzo-Centurione. Complex consisting of two villas
(Durazzo-Centurione and San Giacomo), a large seventeenth-century park
in which there is an interesting Italian garden with paths in typical
Ligurian cobblestone called risseu. Inside Villa Durazzo it is possible
to visit the "Vittorio Giovanni Rossi" art museum, dedicated to the
well-known San Margheritese writer and journalist, as well as the
Prince's apartments and the "Bellometti" collection.
Villa Argentina,
in the capital, built in 1912 and formerly owned by the Roccatagliata
family.
Villa Lo Faro, in the capital, built during the 19th century
in neo-Romanesque style to a design by Luigi Rovelli.
Villa Larco, in
the capital, built during the 19th century.
Marble monument to
Christopher Columbus, near the seafront, created by the sculptor Odoardo
Tabacchi in 1892.
Imperial Palace Hotel. Built in 1889 as a villa for
a noble family of Corsican origin, it was enlarged in 1905 with a wing
used as a hotel, further enlarged in 1910. It was especially famous at
the end of the Belle Époque, when it was often frequented by aristocrats
and famous people. On 16 April 1922 it hosted the signing of the Treaty
of Rapallo which sanctioned the separate peace between the Russian SFSR
and Germany and the end, also at a diplomatic level, of the First World
War. The name of the treaty is due to the fact that the Imperiale Palace
Hotel was then located in the Rapallo area. On 10 August 1928, the
border between the two municipalities was changed and the structure
found itself within the territory of Santa Margherita Ligure.
Castle of Santa Margherita Ligure at the waterfront. Built at the
behest of the Senate of the Republic of Genoa, the castle is the work of
Antonio de Càrabo and the works for its construction began in 1550.
Castle of Paraggi near the inlet of the same name, a well-known seaside
resort between Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. The construction
was decided in 1626 by the Genoese republic for a greater defense of the
territory and the coast along the Portofinese promontory. Today the
structure is used as a private residence.
Torre Piaggio, formerly
Spinola, on the border with the Rapallo district of San Michele di
Pagana. It was built in the sixteenth century.
Torre San Gioacchino
in the hamlet of San Lorenzo della Costa. The tower, incorporated in a
main body (manor villa), was built during the 16th century by the
Genoese republic as a defensive element against Saracen raids. The
former manor house was an ancient seventeenth-century convent wanted by
the Somascan father Andrea Contardi, with an adjoining chapel dedicated
to San Gioacchino (1613). In 1693 the ownership of the entire building
was ceded by the Somaschi fathers to Mr. Gio Batta Tassorello. At the
end of the 19th century, with the Napoleonic events in Liguria, the site
risked a fire following the incursions of French soldiers; the site,
however, fell into disrepair and neglect over the next fifty years; it
was reopened in 1856. Today the property, after other changes of
ownership, is converted to restaurant and accommodation use.
Defense
tower, built in the 16th century, and today a war memorial with its
historical museum.
Cannon, probably used in warfare, stands at the
waterfront.
In the municipal territory of Santa Margherita Ligure there is a site of community interest, proposed by the Natura 2000 network of Liguria, for its particular natural and geological interest. The site is located between the seabed of the municipalities of Camogli, Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure where a particular habitat is signaled consisting of Posidonia oceanica meadows, coral formations and semi-dark caves. Among the animal species there are the fish Epinephelus marginatus, Gobius luteus, Sciaena umbra, Thalassoma pavo; the gorgonians Paramuricea clavata and Eunicella verrucosa; the porifera Spongia agaricina and Spongia officinalis; the mollusk Spondylus gaederopus and the red coral Corallium rubrum.
Stroll. Walk to Portofino on foot. You can follow the coast or explore the many marked and unmarked trails inland.
By plane
Genoa "Cristoforo Colombo" airport is 42 km from the
city. Take the "Volabus" shuttle bus to the Principe di Genova railway
station and from here continue by train to Santa Margherita Ligure
(Genoa - La Spezia line).
By car
From all directions, take the
A12 motorway (Genoa - La Spezia) and follow the signs for Rapallo. Take
the Rapallo exit and follow the directions for Santa Margherita Ligure.
On boat
Port of Santa Margherita Ligure. Visited by cruise ships
docking or stationed offshore. They usually carry passengers pretty much
downtown.
Departures almost every hour from the promenade of Rapallo
with a stopover in Santa Margherita Ligure, also reaching San Fruttuoso.
For details click here.
On the train
Santa Margherita
Ligure-Portofino station. On the Genoa-Pisa line. A train to Genoa takes
around 45 minutes and costs around €3.
By bus
The local public
transport service managed by the ATP guarantees daily bus connections
with Portofino on line 82.
Single journey €3 (points of sale), €4
(on board)
Return €5 (points of sale), €6 (on board). Rates updated
in May 2021.
It is very easy to walk around Santa Margherita. There is a charming promenade for strolling.
Santa Margherita Ligure is located on the
eastern Ligurian Riviera, in a closed basin in the north-western
part of the Portofino promontory, and in the innermost part of the
Gulf of Tigullio, with the development of the "ribbon" town along
two main inlets. The town - located east of Genoa - is surrounded by
hills covered with Mediterranean vegetation (woods of maritime
pines, chestnut trees and, in the lower part, by olive groves) on
which there are villas and gardens overlooking the so-called "Costa
dei Delfini" , which links the city to Portofino. The town is a
popular tourist and seaside center on the Riviera di Levante.
Part of the municipal territory of Santa Margherita Ligure is
included in the Portofino Regional Natural Park, while the stretch
of water in front of the Portofino promontory is also part of the
Portofino Marine Protected Natural Area; both entities are based in
the coastal town.
The discovery of a 3rd century
cinerary urn with a Latin inscription (now preserved in the basilica
of Santa Margherita) confirmed the hypothesis, however not
officially demonstrated, of a settlement in Roman times. Devastated
by Rotari in 641, the original village, inhabited above all by
fishermen and named with the ancient toponym Pescino, underwent
numerous Saracen raids until the 10th century. In the same period
the monks of San Colombano worked there, coming from the abbey of
San Colombano di Bobbio and who founded the abbey of San Fruttuoso
di Camogli in the area.
Feud of the Fieschi family, from 1229
it submitted to the Republic of Genoa which incorporated the
Sammargheritese territory into the Podesta office of Rapallo. From
the Middle Ages onwards it appears that the inhabited area was
divided into two main towns, Pescino and Corte, often divided by
very lively struggles. For a period of time Pescino turned out to be
a district of the same Court, as evidenced by the tapestries in the
Vatican Museums depicting Italian geography. In 1432 it was attacked
and sacked by the Republic of Venice and in 1549 by the Turkish
admiral Dragut, like the nearby Rapallo. In 1608 it became part of
the capital of Rapallo together with other villages and localities
of western Tigullio, Zoagli and middle Val Fontanabuona.
In
1797 with the French domination of Napoleon Bonaparte, the
Sammargheritese territory returned from 2 December to the Department
of the Gulf of Tigullio, with Rapallo as its capital, within the
Ligurian Republic. On 18 July 1798 the territory was divided into
two distinct cantons: the III canton of Santa Margherita, where the
two simple municipalities of San Siro and San Lorenzo della Costa
were subjected, and the IV canton of San Giacomo della Corte with
the simple municipalities of Nozarego and Portofino; both were
included in the Tigullio Jurisdiction. The relations between the two
villages, very distinct politically and religiously, and their
inhabitants - the "dagheritini" and the "giacomini" - broke several
times with bitter confrontations between the parties.
By
ordinance of 5 April 1799 the simple municipalities of San Siro, San
Lorenzo, Nozarego and Portofino were suppressed, incorporating these
centers into the two new municipalities of Santa Margherita and San
Giacomo. Once again there was no peaceful coexistence between the
two municipalities and only on 27 April 1800, jointly, a document
was drawn up where the daisies and the giacomini undertook to
strengthen relations. In 1803 they were the main centers of the
second canton of the Gulf of Tigullio in the Entella jurisdiction
and, annexed to the First French Empire, from 13 June 1805 to 1814
included in the Department of the Apennines.
It was the
Emperor Bonaparte who on December 22, 1812 united the two
municipalities into a single administrative body with a special
imperial decree that took on the name of "Comune di Porto
Napoleone". The municipality had a short life, however, since, with
the fall of Napoleon in 1814, and the consequent incorporation into
the Kingdom of Sardinia from 1815 according to the decisions of the
Congress of Vienna, the various municipalities adopted a provisional
line and an administrative deadlock. According to some historical
sources, the community of San Giacomo attempted in 1817 a new
division of the territories into two distinct municipalities, but
with negative results. The Kingdom of Sardinia, in 1818 and
entrusting administrative power to a "Council of the Elders" led by
Gerolamo Costaguta, united the two main communities in the
"Municipality of Santa Margherita di Rapallo" in the province of
Chiavari under the division of Genoa. From 1859 to 1926 the
territory was included in the 5th district of Rapallo in the
Chiavari district of the then province of Genoa, in the Kingdom of
Italy. It assumed its current final name in 1864 with a special
Royal Decree of Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoy.
In the second half of the nineteenth century the crossing of the
nascent Tyrrhenian railway line Ventimiglia-Rome, where the city
obtained two stations in Santa Margherita and San Lorenzo della
Costa (the latter later suppressed), and the construction of new
carriage roads for Portofino and Rapallo were the impetus of the
successful tourist-hotel business that still today distinguishes the
Levantine town. The golden period of the "Costa dei Delfini" began,
which saw the construction of elegant stately villas and grandiose
hotels frequented by illustrious Italian and foreign personalities -
especially British and German - of the time.
The aggregation
of a part of the Rapallo territory after its detachment dates back
to 1928. After the Second World War, Santa Margherita, Portofino and
the village of Paraggi became increasingly renowned exclusive
tourist resorts. Among the atmospheric phenomena and events that
affected the town the flood of 3-4-5 October 1995 and the violent
storm of 29-30 October 2018.
Schools
Santa Margherita Ligure is home to the following state
schools, related to the upper secondary school cycle:
"Giovanni
Caboto" State Professional Institute for Commercial and Tourist
Services.
At Villa Durazzo there is the International Center of
Italian Studies of the University of Genoa with courses for foreign
students and scholars.
Music
"Cristoforo Colombo"
Philharmonic, founded in 1875.
Since 2015, in the months of September
and October, the "Sibelius Festival Golfo del Tigullio e Riviera" has
been held here, dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.
Cinema
In the Gulf of Tigullio and in Santa Margherita Ligure in
particular, various Italian cinematographic films were shot in the
seventies and eighties. In 1973 the city was the set for some scenes of
the film The police incriminate, the law absolves by director Enzo G.
Castellari, mostly shot in Genoa, starring various Italian actors such
as Franco Nero and Delia Boccardo. In 1988 the director Maurizio Ponzi
chose the coastal city as the backdrop for some episodes for the film Il
volpone; among the actors Enrico Montesano, Paolo Villaggio, Eleonora
Giorgi, Athina Cenci, Enrico Maria Salerno, Renzo Montagnani, Alessandro
Haber and Sabrina Ferilli. In the 1992 film Unhappy and Happy by
director Neri Parenti, starring Renato Pozzetto, Ezio Greggio and
Mariana Suma, you can see the bay of Paraggi and the Piazzetta
Sant'Erasmo above the municipal fish market. Also in Santa Margherita
some main scenes of the film Hotel Italia, released in theaters in 1999,
were filmed.
"Carlo Negri Cup - Pirelli Regattas". It is an international sailing
competition organized every year at the beginning of May by the Yacht
Club and the Circolo Velico in the stretch of water in front of Santa
Margherita and Portofino.
"Premio Bindi - Festival della Canzone
d'autore" dedicated to the Genoese singer-songwriter Umberto Bindi takes
place in July.
"Santa Margherita Ligure International Journalistic
Award for culture" in June.
"Santa Margherita Ligure Award - Fernanda
Pivano" in July.
"Santa Margherita International Prize for the
economy" in September.
Maritime Palio of Tigullio. Santa Margherita
Ligure, San Michele di Pagana, Rapallo, Zoagli, Chiavari, Lavagna and
Sestri Levante challenge each other every year, between May and August,
in a series of rowing competitions on traditional Ligurian goiters in
the waters of the Gulf of Tigullio. The first edition started in 1974.
"Palco sul mare festival" and "Laughing under the stars". These are two
music and cabaret festivals held every summer in the gardens on the
promenade: numerous appointments with singers and comedians of national
importance.
The animated park and "The Magic Flute". In the setting
of the "The Magic Flute" children's park (designed by Emanuele Luzzati)
two nice and important exhibitions are held for the youngest: an
appointment every summer, between June and August.
"Palio of the
Neighborhoods". The whole city "fighting" for a trophy: divided into six
teams representing hamlets and districts of Santa (Ghiaia, O Cian,
Nozarego/Corte, San Bernardo, San Lorenzo della Costa and San Siro), the
inhabitants of San Margheri challenge each other years (the second
Sunday of September) in eleven different sports to conquer the
"dominance of the city".
"Spring Festival". Every year in March,
Santa Margherita welcomes Spring in celebration: bonfires, fireworks and
thousands of St. Joseph's pancakes.
A typical product that distinguishes this city are the famous red prawns of Santa Margherita, appreciated by tourists and residents for the quality and flavor of the meat.
The territory consists of the three hamlets of Nozarego, Paraggi and
San Lorenzo della Costa for a total of 10.04 km².
It borders to
the north with the municipality of Rapallo, to the south with Camogli
and Portofino, to the west with Camogli and to the east it is bordered
by the Ligurian Sea.
It is mainly based on tourism, thanks to the numerous bathing
establishments and luxurious hotels. Also important is "cruise tourism",
in fact it is the landing area for passenger ships from all over the
world.
The port is used for the mooring of luxurious boats
alongside the traditional fishing boats; it is also home to important
activities related to sea sports (sailing, rowing and diving) and social
events related to the major international regattas hosted.
Crafts
Local craftsmanship is centered on the textile art aimed at making lace
and macramé.
Streets
The center of Santa Margherita Ligure is crossed by the
provincial road 227 of Portofino, which constitutes the coastal road
connection with Rapallo to the east and with Portofino to the west,
where the provincial road ends; the same provincial road crosses the
hamlet of Paraggi.
The state road 1 Via Aurelia does not directly
serve the center of Santa Margherita Ligure, but the hamlet of San
Lorenzo della Costa; in turn, the hamlet is connected to the urban
center by the provincial road 39 of Santa Margherita.
Railways
Santa Margherita Ligure has its own railway station on the Genoa-Pisa
line, also serving the neighboring Portofino (hence the double
denomination).
Until 1946, a second facility called "San Lorenzo"
was active, which stood in the area adjacent to the current "Eugenio
Broccardi" sports field and was at the service of the homonymous hamlet
of San Lorenzo della Costa.
Urban mobility
From the
municipalities of Rapallo and Lavagna, a local public transport service
managed by the AMT guarantees daily bus connections to Santa Margherita
Ligure and to other towns in the municipal area.
Maritime lines
A maritime transport service allows you to reach Portofino, San
Fruttuoso di Camogli and the Cinque Terre by boat, as well as daily
connections with Rapallo, Sestri Levante, Chiavari and Genoa.
Rhythmic gymnastics
Tigullio Sports Team.
Basketball
Tigullio Sport Team in the Serie C Amateur championship.
Volleyball
Tigullio Sport Team in the 2011-2012 Regional C series
championship.
Soccer
Sammargheritese 1903, whose first
foundation dates back to 1903 and which came to play Serie C in the
1946-1947 championship; after the merger with Corte '82, it currently
participates in the championship of
Liguria promotion.
San Lorenzo
dalla Costa Sanvi Genova in the Second Category and Serie B futsal
championships.
Rapid Nozarego 2019, militant in the Third Category
championship.
Boating
Argus Rowing Club 1910 (movable seat);
Gianni Figari Rowing Club (fixed seat).
Cycling
Santa
Margherita Ligure was the arrival stage of the Giro d'Italia: the 8th
stage of 1922, starting from Florence, won by Luigi Annoni; the 3rd
stage of 1938, starting from Sanremo, won by Giovanni Gotti; the 17th
stage of 1964, starting from Livorno, won by Franco Bitossi; the 11th
stage of 1977, started from Salsomaggiore Terme, won by Claudio
Bortolotto.
American Football
In Santa Margherita Ligure, at
the "Eugenio Broccardi" sports field, the first and historic Italian
Superbowl was held on 4 July 1981, which ended with the victory of
Rhinos Milano over Frogs Legnano 24 to 8.