What to see in Camogli ?

Camogli is a fishing village on the Ligurian Riviera that's managed to remain itself despite its growing reputation. Trompe-l'oeil painted facades looking onto the harbour, the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta and the Dragonara castle all make a picture that still belongs as much to the locals as to visitors. The town runs on the rhythms of the sea, not tourism.

The best time is May to June, before summer saturation sets in, with pleasant temperatures for exploring the Portofino promontory on foot via the coastal path. Two days are enough to get the measure of it; the train from Genoa is the simplest and quickest way to arrive. Avoid the August weekend of the Sagra del Pesce: prices double and the crowds blur away precisely what makes the place worth visiting.