The atmosphere of tradition
Everything in Camogli has the scent of Ligurian tradition, the narrow alleys, the steep stairs, the ancient pastel-colored houses.
Everything contributes to creating an extremely picturesque and characteristic atmosphere, which brings with it a timeless charm where the magic of the sea blends in with the soul of the place.
Here, more than anywhere else, man has always intertwined his destiny with the sea and has a deep bond with it, which emerges in all its forms.
A symbolic event is the Feast of Stella Maris which, with thousands of small candles floating on the sea, pays homage to the Madonna by offering a picturesque and moving show.
In the culinary field it is fish that represents tradition, celebrated in the renowned “Fish Festival” where over 3 tons of it is fried in a large pan in the square of the marina.
Eventi e manifestazioni
The Fish Festival and the Feast of Saint Fortunato
The Fish Festival, dedicated to Saint Fortunato Martyr, patron saint of fishermen, was born in 1952 to attract tourists to the village under the motto “for Saint Fortunato, free fish.” Today it is one of the city’s most popular events.
On the second Sunday of May, hundreds of kilos of fish are fried in a giant stainless-steel pan measuring 3.8 meters in diameter, with a 6-meter handle, weighing 2.8 tons and holding up to 2000 liters, and are distributed free of charge to thousands of visitors.
The night before, the saint is celebrated with a procession through the town, followed by fireworks and huge bonfires on the beaches. On the second Sunday of May, hundreds of kilos of fish are fried in a giant stainless-steel pan measuring 3.8 meters in diameter, with a 6-meter handle, weighing 2.8 tons and holding up to 2000 liters, and are distributed free of charge to thousands of visitors. The night before, the saint is celebrated with a procession through the town, followed by fireworks and huge bonfires on the beaches.
FESTIVAL OF THE “STELLA MARIS”
As in the past, still today the life of Camogli and its inhabitants is characterized by the relationship with the sea. Every year on the first Sunday of August, the celebration of Stella Maris, protector of sailors and fishermen, revives the ancient rite of entrustment to Mary, and finds full title in the manifestations of popular devotion.
The most evocative event in the little village begins in the morning: a procession of small boats decorated with ornaments leaves the marina and accompanies the Dragun and the reliquary of the Virgin to Punta Chiappa.
At the “Punta”, mass is celebrated with the blessing of the sea and boats.
In the evening, the stretch of sea of the coast of Camogli and Punta Chiappa is covered with thousands of floating candles: an exciting spectacle made even more evocative, by the light of the torches, by the evolutions of the Dragun.
LOVERS IN CAMOGLI
An event devoted to those in love in the most romantic period of the year: Valentine’s Day.
Inaugurated in 1988, it is renewed every year, giving life to numerous entertainment initiatives, cultural, poetic and photographic reviews in the name of love.
The event attracts the attention of thousands of artists, poets, photographers, those passionate about the theme of love and of Camogli, and it colors the hamlet with stalls and themed sets, nets with knotted red hearts all along the marina.
Furthermore, the Valentine’s Day in Camogli souvenir plate is created every year, and given as a gift by the restaurateurs during the day devoted to the festival of lovers.
Feast of the Dog
The protagonists of the event are the dogs and their owners who have distinguished themselves in acts of courage or who have demonstrated the bond of friendship and loyalty between humans and their animals.
The idea of the “Dog Loyalty Award” was born on August 16, 1962, in memory of a little dog, Pucci, adopted by the elementary school in San Rocco. Initially a regional award, it later became nationally and even internationally recognized. Since 1966, a kindness award has also been given to those who have shown exceptional generosity toward dogs. In 2007, the competition “A Dog for a Friend” was added, reserved for students of primary and lower secondary schools in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, aimed at stimulating creativity and encouraging the relationship between young people and their four-legged friends. In 1981, on the occasion of the 20th edition of the event, a monument dedicated to the dog was erected in the square in front of the church of San Rocco.
MADONNA DEI GOTTI
The feast of Our Lady of Grace or “Madonna dei gotti” concerns the Marian icon depicted in the small shrine located on Via Tommaso Racca, in the heart of the medieval village, which on this occasion welcomes all the people of Camogli and many curious visitors.
Not far from the other votive shrine of the “Madonna of the Good Voyage”, protector of fishermen and sailors, Our Lady of Grace is known as “Madonna dei Gotti” in memory of the toasts of good fortune raised in her honor, made possible by the ancient taverns that once stood in the port area.
This is a much-loved celebration, held on the second weekend of October, so much so that it is known as the “festival of the people of Camogli”, while also welcoming many guests every year. The festival, which unfolds over two days, is enriched by the historical value of memories, religious blessings, and convivial moments with typical local food products, concluding with light-hearted challenges and toasts.
DRAGUN
The boat that best represents the love of the people of Camogli for the sea is the Dragun, a colorful vessel made from an old lifeboat and creatively “reimagined” in memory of the pirate raids of centuries past. A symbol of the local rowing tradition, it is 10.5 meters long, with two lateen sails and twelve 4-meter oars.
Present at every major event in the city, the Dragun has carried the name of Camogli along the great rivers of Europe and America. Since 1978, it has been a UNICEF ambassador worldwide — the only boat, together with the Amerigo Vespucci, authorized to display the emblem.
During the winter, the boat is pulled ashore and displayed at Largo Simonetti, while with the arrival of the warmer season, the evocative ritual of the transhumance takes place, in which the boat is launched into the sea, passing through the streets of the town.
Crocifissi
Artistic works of remarkable value, preserved in the religious buildings of Camogli, are accompanied by religious rites that have been passed down for centuries
They are linked to the tradition of the casacce (the typical Ligurian confraternities) and the bearers of the crucifixes (also called Cristezanti), with their specific ceremonial garments.
Especially in the hamlet of Ruta, during the processions for the local patronal feast of Saint John the Baptist, the custom of carrying the large crucifixes through the streets of the hamlet is still maintained, including the “Moorish crucifix” known as the di Mignanego, which is the heaviest in Liguria at 183 kilograms.
In the parish of Ruta, there are a total of four procession crucifixes; at the Oratory of Saints Prospero and Caterina there are another two, as well as at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Boschetto, all preserved by the Confraternity of the Addolorata.
Presepi
The tradition of nativity scenes is deeply rooted in Camogli and its hamlets. On Via Isola, near the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, the Amici del Presepe have been setting up since 2019 (although the tradition actually dates back to the 1980s) a mechanized nativity scene that each year depicts different views of the area, with meticulous and realistic details. The proceeds from the offerings are donated to social projects.
In Ruta, a living nativity scene is organized in the space of the Oratory with animals, curated by the Confraternity of the Most Holy Annunciation. The presence of the animals not only recalls the image of the nativity scene, but also evokes the rural activities of the past in the area, with tools and ancient trades that characterized the community.
An ancient tradition is that of the nativity scene at the Oratorio del Boschetto, where the Confraternity of Our Lady of Sorrows preserves 18th-century figurines. Other noteworthy nativity scenes are those of the Abbey of San Fruttuoso and the one along the Monte di Portofino path between Portofino Vetta and Pietre Strette.
