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Sestri Levante: 3 things to see absolutely!
✅ Before starting to read about what to see in Sestri Levante, here are some really interesting links about Tigullio. Take a look! 😉
- Camogli: 5 things to see absolutely
- The Christ of the Abyss
- Portofino Vetta, the “other” Portofino
- Genova Nervi: 3 things to see absolutely
- San Michele di Pagana: what to see?
- Tigullio: 5 Things you can’t miss!
- Rapallo Castle, the symbol of the city, by the sea
- Tigullio: 10 (and more) reason for a Winter visit
- Tigullio: 5 curious things you need to know!
Sestri Levante: let’s go together to discover “3 truly unmissable things”!
This is our definitive guide to Sestri Levante, famous all over the world, with the two bays and its wonderful corners.
If you are planning a tour in the Ligurian town, remember to visit as many places as possible among them.
You will be surprised by the incredible variety of emotions that Sestri Levante will be able to make you feel!
There is so much to do and so many things to see! We grouped them all – for simplicity – in just 3 points. 😉
And now, let’s GO with the 3 THINGS TO SEE ABSOLUTELY IN SESTRI LEVANTE! 👇
1️⃣ The Historic Center
A visit to Sestri Levante start from Largo Colombo , with its “oval” shape and the majestic presence of Palazzo Fasce (photo 👇 below).
Built at the beginning of the 20th century, in medieval style, completed with a crenelated tower, it was bequeathed to the city by the Knight Vincenzo Fasce. Today, it houses the municipal library and the Musel.
Let’s continue in via XXV Aprile, the central alley of Sestri Levante, the real heart of the village.
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Among shops, facades and colored ones, we arrive at the arch of Vico del Bottone (from where – following Salita della Mandrella – starts the hiking path to Punta Manara) and then at the intersection with via Palestro.
Taking via Palestro, you will reach – in a few steps – the Torre dei Doganieri, built in the sixteenth century by the Republic of Genoa, the church of San Pietro in Vincoli – built in the seventeenth century for the Capuchin Friars – and the Rizzi Gallery.
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2️⃣ The Bay of Silence and the Bay of Fables
Let’s continue in Via dei Cappuccini, (photo 👇 below) which flows into the wonderful Bay of Silence. It is a 😍 unique and enchanting place in every season, known all over the world.
It overlooks the turquoise sea, where the colorful buildings that border the beach are reflected.
On both sides, almost to “close” the Bay of Silence, we find two convents.
Via dei Cappuccini, leads to the convent of the same name and to the church dedicated to the immaculate, the Convent of the Capuchins. It is located in an extraordinary panoramic position, overlooking the bay. It was built at the end of the 17th century.
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The Church of the Immaculate Conception has its greatest element of interest in the valuable altar and beautiful wooden furnishings.
In “Ponente”, on the opposite side of the Bay, in the Portobello area (Photo 👇 below), stands out the façade of Palazzo Negrotto Cambiaso, built in the second half of the seventeenth century, for the Durazzo family, one of the most important families of the ancient Genoese aristocracy.
At the end of the peninsula, the bay is closed by the bulk of the former Dominican Convent of the Annunziata (photo 👇 below), founded in the fifteenth century.
Today, it is the seat of the Fondazione Mediterraneo.
Going up the steep road to the Levante peninsula, we find the remains of the walls, built by the Republic of Genoa in the twelfth century and, on the left, the ruins of the Oratory of Santa Caterina (photo 👇 below).
The building was built in the fourteenth century. It was almost completely destroyed in WW2, by the bombing of 1944.
On the top of the peninsula, surrounded by greenery, dominates the medieval church of San Nicolò dell’Isola (photo 👇 below), built by the Genoese in the mid-twelfth century.
A restoration from the early 1900s, has restored the building to its original appearance.
Interesting. is the marble relief above the side door, with geometric and floral motifs, dating back to the eighth century.
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The peninsula is dominated by two buildings that now house a hotel.
The twentieth-century Villa Gualino, built on the remains of the medieval Genoese fortifications and, inside the park, the famous Torre Marconi .
Here, the inventor Guglielmo Marconi carried out some experiments.
This is the last trace of an ancient system of sighting towers, against the incursions of Saracen pirates.
Wandering around the historic center, the neoclassical basilica of Santa Maria di Nazareth is also worth seeing, with the altar by the Genoese scultor Francesco Maria Schiaffino and the Holy Christ to which the inhabitants are very devoted, and the Town Hall.
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The Palace was already documented in 1675 as the Bishop’s Palace and still retains the typical spaces of a Baroque aristocratic residence.
Let’s now head towards the sea, on the side opposite the Bay of Silence. Here is the famous Baia delle Favole, with its large and welcoming sandy beach, which in summer hosts numerous beach clubs.
It was thus renamed by the anchorman Enzo Tortora, in 1960, during an episode of the Campanile Sera, famous TV program at that time.
For the full story of how the name came about, read here .
3️⃣ Punta Manara and Punta Baffe
Let’s now leave the sea and go.. up high.
We head to the promontory of Punta Manara, which divides Sestri Levante from Riva Trigoso. Here, there is a network of well-marked paths that allow – for young and old – to admire splendid views and to make pleasant and easy walks.
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The end of the Promontory, which can be reached on foot, is called “the telegraph” and is located about 180 meters above sea level.
It was once a lookout point and, more recently, the seat of the optical telegraph.
From here, the view extends from Tuscany to France and, in the days of the north wind, you can see clearly Corsica.
The easiest access is from the historic center, from Vico del Bottone . Continue uphill of the Mandrella , having two solid red squares as a signpost .
Punta Baffe, on the other hand, is located at the eastern end of Riva Trigoso Bay.
From here, you can go towards Casarza Ligure or follow the two itineraries, one higher and one lower, which lead to Moneglia .
In 2004, the Promontory was devastated by a terrible 🔥 fire.
Even today, the signs are clearly visible, but some strips of vegetation have been saved and, in some areas, the Mediterranean scrub is regaining possession of the land.
The best known and most popular path starts from the cemetery of Riva Trigoso, and leads to the turret, which was part, like that of Punta Manara, of the sighting system in defense of pirate raids, set up starting from the sixteenth century.
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