The ancient dock, the towers, the traditions of this Ligurian city, in the post you will discover excellent reasons to organize a stay in Savona, a destination little considered by tourism but which has so much to offer.
Why should I visit right Savona? But are there beaches in Savona?
Savona ... yes, I heard about it, I passed it on the highway to go towards Alassio ...
Here, these are just some of the typical phrases that I heard when, from local Savona, I happened to talk about it with acquaintances from other regions (but not only).
I am aware of this, often Savona remains "that unknown capital", the "anonymous town" overshadowed by pleasant places in its province such as, for example, the seaside villages of Noli, Varigotti, Finalborgo, the famous Alassio, the seaside Pietra Ligure .
Yet, at a less superficial glance, it is a moment to discover that Savona also gives unexpected pearls and, in this article, I will introduce you five (plus a "bonus" but very distinctive motif).
Let's start!
1. The Old Dock
One of the places I love most in Savona is the Darsena, il beating heart of the port where yachts and boats moor, and the tradition of fishermen blends harmoniously with the modernity of the numerous places that overlook here for an aperitif or a dinner based on local specialties.
Especially on summer evenings, with its squares, piers and docks, the Darsena becomes a lively meeting point for citizens and tourists, attracted by the initiatives promoted to liven up the city: musical and theatrical performances on the Palcomare, sporting events and exhibitions and markets on the ladder leading to the historic center.
To embellish the area I point out the bronze statue of the little mermaid by the sculptor Parini and the statue of the Sailor made by the sculptor Renata Cuneo in 1986.
To watch over the dock is the medieval tower, Torre Leon Pancaldo or Torre della Quarda, symbol of Savona, which in ancient times was an integral part of the walls to protect the city.
Today it is the seat of the National Sailors of Italy and the room on the ground floor is dotted with relics of the Navy.
2. The monumental complex of Priamar
The Priamar fortress stands proudly in Corso Mazzini, not far from the Darsena and from the beginning of the Savona promenade, the so-called “Prolungamento”.
For those arriving in Savona, the complex is an important destination not to be missed museum, cultural and tourist center, home to the Civic Archaeological Museum and the City, of various kinds of events, shows, concerts and an enviable vantage point from which to appreciate the blue of the sea, the beauty of the coast and the city skyline.
3. Via Paleocapa
From the Darsena, after passing the Torretta, here is the beginning of Via Paleocapa, the main city artery flanked by elegant arcades under which you can stroll without haste and discover all kinds of shops.
At numbers 3 and 5, look up to admire the picturesque Palazzo dei Pavoni, with the facade embellished with peacock figures and floral images by Alessandro Martinengo.
Along the way you will also meet the eighteenth century Church of Sant'Andrea, the oratory of the Risen Christ famous for its three processional coffers (Annunciation by Maragliano, Addolorata by Filippo Martinengo and Deposition by Antonio Brilla) and the Church of St. John the Baptist with baroque facade of the eighteenth century.
4. The Sistine Chapel
No, it is not a typo or an error.
Few people know, in fact, that in addition to the famous Sistine Chapel in Rome, there is another one in Savona.
Among the most prestigious monuments of the city, it was commissioned, like the Roman homonymous one, by Pope Sixtus IV, a native of Savona, as a mausoleum for the parents who have now disappeared.
The chapel, adjacent to the city Cathedral, Cathedral of Maria Assunta in the historic center (in Piazza del Duomo), is a Rococo gem with rich stuccoes and brightly colored frescoes.
On the choir in the counter-façade, the eighteenth-century pipe organ housed in a finely decorated wooden house closed by painted doors is also worth admiring.
5. The Brandale Tower
Observing the city from the dock, it is impossible not to notice one of the other symbols of Savona, the medieval Torre del Brandale which rests on Gothic archivolts that indicate the entrance to the charming historic center of which Via Pia is one of the most fascinating streets, in my opinion.
The tower houses the Campanassa, a large fourteenth-century bell whose tolls accompany the most significant events and moments for the city.
Getting to know Savona: the extra reason
I have listed you five reasons to get to know Savona, in my opinion the most important ones to begin to dispel the myth that "in Savona there is nothing".
But I want to conclude the article with a "bonus", a touching and suggestive curiosity that characterizes the city: Piazza Mameli at 18 pm.
What does it mean? In the central Piazza Mameli, every day at 18 pm precisely, the Bell of the War Memorial rings 21 strokes to call everyone to recollection and to remember the fallen of every war.
A tradition very dear to the people of Savona, a ritual that invites traffic and pedestrians to stop and, for a minute, experience a moment of meditation in the midst of hectic daily life.
