A Stunning Coastal Village In Italy Offers Immaculate Views Decorated With Colorful Homes
Colorful little buildings cascade down a steep hill, staggered and stacked over centuries; they create narrow alleys that give way to tiny, hidden plazas. And everything eventually meets the calm, turquoise Ligurian Sea of the Italian Riviera. A thin pebble beach lies at the bottom of a small stone cliff, scattered colorful umbrellas shine in the sun, a bright contrast to the wet grey wall. Small rocky points on either side create a tiny bay that frames the beach and village above it, as small fishing boats bob lazily on calm waters, serving as a resting spot for gulls.
If you’re thinking that sounds (and looks) like it could be one of the famous villages of Cinque Terre, you’re close and picturing the right coast, but it’s actually Bogliasco. The maritime village dates back to the Roman Empire and has all the Ligurian charm of its Instagram-famous neighbors (it’s only fifty miles up the shore), but it has gone largely unnoticed. While there are many tourist traps to skip in Italy, places that maintain their authentic feel, like Bogliasco, prove that there’s always so many more enriching places to dive into.
Bogliasco offers a dreamy getaway on the Mediterranean. It’s the perfect place to escape the chaos for quiet, sun-drenched days wandering cobbled streets and lying on small beaches. Or you could make the village a peaceful stop on a wider tour of the Italian coast. Either way, the colorful homes that descend right to the sea, laundry gently waving on clothes lines, and awning-covered terraces that line the coastal promenade with immaculate views are sure to charm.
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Making the most of a trip to Bogliasco
A panoramic sunny small beach in Bogliasco, Italy with the sea on one side and a coastal village on the other – givaga/Shutterstock
A train runs along the coast of much of the Italian Riviera, so getting to this village of 5,000 is pretty straightforward. The quickest way to get here is to fly or take a train to Genoa, then board a 15-minute train to Bogliasco — the drive from Genoa is around 25 minutes and is full of breathtaking azure seaside views. Milan is roughly two hours away as well, so flying into that gorgeous city is also an option. For accommodation in Bogliasco, there’s a bit of everything from a cozy hotel in the historic center to the hospitality of a family-run guesthouse, semi-rustic camping, or vacation rentals with sea views.
Once there, it’s all about taking days at a proper Italian vacation pace, slowly. Start with a classic coffee-and-pastry combination at a quaint café before wandering the maze of thin streets and narrow alleys that make up the city center. Then swap into swimwear and grab the beach bag for an afternoon on one of the village beaches, like Spiaggia Libera in the cove below the city or Spiaggia Sotto La Chiesa if you have a snorkel and mask to explore below the turquoise water’s surface. Bring a lunch and picnic on a beach blanket, or grab a Genovese focaccia or Ligurian must-try pasta, trofie al pesto, from one of the restaurants near the promenade.
In the evening, you could wander along the sea, stopping by the elegant 12th-century Church of the Nativity of Mary Most Holy and the famous Roman bridge that arches over a small channel. Then have a crisp apéritif with sunset views at il Bistrotto before tucking into a beachside restaurant like La Caletta 2019 or Just Peruzzi for a local seafood pasta dish.
Exploring the surrounding Ligurian Coast
The village of Bogliasco on a small peninsula with towering green hills behind it – Aleh Varanishcha/Getty Images
A lovely, relaxing vacation could be repeating that itinerary for a few days in this authentically Ligurian village but simply swapping in new beaches and different Bogliasco restaurants. Or, of course, you could head down the coast for more adventures on the Italian Riviera. There are many beaches, seaside promenades, and things to see in nearby villages, like the public gardens in Nervi or the ornate bell tower of Chiesa di Santa Margherita in Sori, both just a short taxi away.
Camogli, however, is only 20 minutes away and well-deserving of a day trip. It’s an underrated Italian town offering a laid-back coastal experience with the gorgeous pastel-colored buildings along the seashore like its Ligurian neighbors. What elevates Camogli are the ridiculously beautiful 12th-century Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta standing tall at the end of the beach, the nearby hikes, and snorkeling to see the statue of Christ of the Abyss.
Nearby Portofino is an iconic village at the end of a peninsula, and the 50 miles of well-marked trails in Portofino Regional Natural Park are also worth a visit. Cruising further along the coast is one quaint village after seaside town after another, all the way to the world-famous villages of Cinque Terre and the harbor city of La Spezia. The gorgeous stretch of Ligurian coast from there to Genoa has a well-deserved reputation, including being one of the most romantic honeymoon destinations in Italy, according to travelers. The villages with colorful, seaside houses stacked on top of one another draw many visitors every year. Bogliasco is a more low-key village in a string of charming coastal towns, a peaceful getaway that’s kept its authentic feel.
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